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If you waited out the rain at Citizens Bank Park, or were dry at home and able to keep your eyes open until almost midnight, count yourself among the lucky ones. You saw a very entertaining ballgame Friday night.
The Phillies began their most important series of the season with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. Raul Ibanez won it when he crushed a 2-0 fastball from right-hander Scott Proctor into the rightfield seats with one out in the bottom 10th inning.
Its definitely a good feeling, Ibanez said moments after a victorious home-plate celebration. Youre definitely not trying to do that. Youre just thinking get a good pitch and drive it. When it happens, theres no better feeling as a player.
While Ibanez was the ultimate hero, he spread credit around the clubhouse.
We did it together, he said. Doc starter Roy Halladay did a great job. The bullpen was great. Chooch catcher Carlos Ruiz hit a big home run.
Ibanez was right on all countsespecially that bullpen. Mike Stutes and Antonio Bastardo followed Halladays seven innings of two-run ball with scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth. And then the night got really entertaining when 32-year-old minor-league journeyman Juan Perez came in and did something that hadnt been done by a Phillie since 1991. He struck out the side in the top of the 10th on nine pitches. Andy Ashby was the last Phillie to do that, turning the feat against Cincinnati on June 15, 1991.
MLB
Perez memorable night was capped off by his first big-league win.
Hours earlier, one had to wonder if this game would even be played. Heavy rain washed out batting practice and delayed the start of the game one hour, 54 minutes. After idling in the clubhouse during the delay, Halladay was told the game would start at 8:35 p.m. He made his way to the bullpen for warmups just after 8 p.m. and began tossing in the rain. As he limbered up, Halladay wondered if he was wasting his time. What if the rain persisted? Would he be lost for the night?
It crossed my mind, Halladay said. I wondered if we were making the right call.
The rain let up and Halladay came to the dugout. But just before the umpires were to take the field, the skies opened again and the tarp was rolled back onto the field. Were Halladays fears coming true? No. It only rained about 10 more minutes. Halladay changed his rain soaked uniform and took the mound. He allowed five hits in his first four innings of work but managed sticky situations well and held the Braves to two runs over than span.
He makes you earn your runs, manager Charlie Manuel said. They had chances early, but he held them.
Manuel was asked why he believes Halladay is so good at limiting damage in threatening situations.
He works on making good pitches, Manuel said. He watches video. He studies hitters. He watches the game when hes not pitching. He knows exactly how he wants to pitch each guy in the lineup.
Halladays final bit of game management came in the top of the seventh when he retired pinch-hitter Eric Hinske for the final out of the frame one batter after Nate McLouth had tripled. That out preserved a 2-2 tie. The Phillies had tied the game back in the fourth inning when Ruiz homered off Brandon Beachy.
Atlanta has the best bullpen in the majors and it features three lefties in Eric OFlaherty, Jonny Venters and George Sherrill. OFlaherty and Venters both rank among the top 10 in ERA for major league relievers. By the 10th inning, however, all three had been used in the game. So when the left-handed Ibanez came up in that inning, he was facing a right-hander in Proctor.
Proctor is hard thrower, always has been. Phillies scouting reports had him up to 97 mph this season. So with the count 2-and-0 with one out in the 10th, Ibanez was looking fastball all the way. He got it and didnt miss it.
With a 2-and-0 count, you focus on getting your pitch, Ibanez said. The key is getting itand dont miss it.
The win pushed the Phillies lead in the National League East back to 3 games over the surging Braves.
Was this a statement game for the Phillies?
Im not into that stuff, Ibanez said. Theyre a good team. Were a good team. We have to go out and try to win the game. Every game is important, regardless of who youre playing. How many times have you seen a team eliminated by one game? You can look back at one loss in April and it counts as much as any other. So theyre all big games.
Ibanez called the Phillies a confident team, but not an arrogant team.
Much of that confidence starts with the starting pitching staff. The Phils are 10-0 in Halladays last 10 starts.
Obviously this is an important series, Halladay said. But were still at the point where were trying to win day in and day out and not get caught up in the standings.
Yes, there are many miles to go in this NL East marathon, and the Phils still have eight games left against the Braves. But being 3 games up is certainly better than being 3 games down.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com