Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Posted: 4:26 p.m.
By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com
BOX SCORE
CLEARWATER, Fla.While Chase Utley took some batting practice in Clearwater, his teammates beat the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, 5-3, for the Phils second consecutive victory.
Brian Schneiders three-run homer in the second inning proved to be the decisive blow, as the Phillies bats progressed, picking up nine hits for the second game in a row. Former Tiger Jeff Larish also homered, going deep with a solo shot in the seventh inning for his first bomb of the spring.
Additionally, Jimmy Rollins returned to the leadoff spot after batting third in the past two games and bunted for a base hit. Placido Polanco moved from the No. 2 slot to the three-hole in manager Charlie Manuels great lineup experiment of the spring, and also picked up a base hit.
Meanwhile, Raul Ibanez batted behind Ryan Howard in the fifth spot and went 2-for-3 with a double, as the Phils went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
MLB
On the mound, No. 5 starter Joe Blanton continued to progress to the regular season, firing five innings and giving up two runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Blanton also struck out three hitters, and wiggled out of bases-loaded jams in both the second and third innings. In the second the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs before Blanton coaxed a run-scoring double play. In the third with the sacks full, Blanton limited the damage by holding Magglio Ordonez to a sacrifice fly.
Relievers Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and David Herndon followed with scoreless innings of work, while lefty Mike Zagurski gave up a run in the ninth to pick up his first save of the spring.
Next up, the Phillies will host the Yankees at Bright House Field on Thursday afternoon, where Roy Halladay will make his third start of the spring. Also scheduled to pitch are J.C. Ramirez, Scott Mathieson, Michael Stutes and Michael Schwimer.
The Yankees are scheduled to host Pittsburgh in Tampa on Wednesday night, which could make it likely that the teams big stars will sit it out.
E-mail John Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com
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