Running Thoughts: Smith. vs Kendrick

Preview

Lineup Card

Here we go.  This should be interesting.

Rockies lining up in their three announcer setup tonight.

1st Inning

• Shane Victorino triples on an 0-2 pitch.  Smith simply can't make a quality 0-2 pitch.  
• Polanco with the sac fly.  Hawpe made a great throw from fairly deep right.  Good try.  
• Another 0-2 basehit, this time by Chase Utley.  
• Smith strikes out Howard.  He's throwing strikes tonight, no doubt about that.  Now he just needs to find more quality strikes.  
• And then he walks Werth on four pitches.  Maybe I need to shut up.  
• Strikes out Ibanez.  High pitch count inning but limited the damage.  
• Phillies 1, Rockies 0
• Jason Giambi with a laser RBI single to even the score.  Much needed hit for team and player.  
• Rockies 1, Phillies 1
• Good first inning of baseball.  

2nd Inning

• I think this is going to be a long game.  Smith with a full count on just about everyone in the inning.  At least it was scoreless!

3rd Inning

• Strikeout (Utley), Strikeout (Howard), Walk (Werth), Flyout (Ibanez).  Good inning for Smith.  One of his best of the season actually.  
• Quality AB #2 and RBI #2 for Jason Giambi... sac fly.  
• Rockies 2, Phillies 1

4th Inning

• Greg Smith with six strikeouts through four.  Hats off so far.  
• Rockies waste the leadoff Stewart double.  If Olivo moves the runner, it's a run, but Olivo is a rally killer.  

5th Inning

• Victorino with a walk.  Fouled off 6-7 pitches.  Terrific AB.  
• Mora fails to turn another double play.  Cost the Rockies a run on that play, and then Jayson Werth doubles in a run.  So that's a two run error when the inning should have been over.
• Phillies 3, Rockies 2
• Kendrick balks home the tying run.  Solid.
• Nice opposite field hitting by Brad Hawpe.  RBI single reclaims the lead.  
• Rockies 4, Phillies 3

6th Inning

• Like I said before, Ruiz is the toughest out for the Rockies in that lineup.  Solo HR.
• Victorino flips another triple into right center.  These Phillies can flat hit professionally.  
• Wild pitch scores the go ahead run.  Three giveaway runs.  Ridiculous.
• Rockies go down 1-2-3 as we enter into the twilight innings.  
• Phillies 5, Rockies 4

7th Inning

• Beimel did a good job.  Utley had a well hit single,  Howard blooped one in there.  Struck out Werth and then get a flyout from Ibanez.  Belisle in now to face the Rockie killer Ruiz.  
• Belisle gets him to popout.  He has quietly done a very solid job out of the bullpen.  He's a different pitcher than last season.  
• Three big Ribs for Giambi tonight.  Bloops one over Chase Ultey to tie the game.  
• The Phillies turn a clutch DP that the Rockies couldn't.  That's why the Phillies are the cream of the crop and the Rockies are clawing to get there.  
• Rockies 5, Phillies 5

8th Inning

• More incredibly lousy defense as Brad Hawpe drops a flyball.  
• Randy Flores pitches over it as he gets Chase Utley to fly to left.  Great job by Belisle and Flores.  
• Rockies leave another pair on base.  Going to the ninth all squared up.  

9th Inning

• Tracy decides to intentionally walk Ibanez to set up Rockie killer Carlos Ruiz (.520 in May).  No, that didn't work.  
• Ross Gload then caps the scoring a three-run HR. 
• Final: Phillies 9, Rockies 5