April 1, 2011 - You are the Philadelphia Phillies and have Roy Halladay to go against the Houston Astros in the season opener, probably feeling pretty good about your chances. While the Phillies win in the end always, she took there was anything but predictable.
After falling behind in the seventh inning and trailing edge 4-0, clutched the Phillies and went into the ground closer to the ninth Astros Brandon Lyon could not strike.
Halladay and Brett Myers traded zeroes in the sixth inning when Bill Hall in the game first run went on. The Astros were not done, and added three more in the seventh on a two-run triple by Michael Bourn and Angel Sanchez. Needing only nine more outs, the Astros in a good position.
But the Phillies have two back in the bottom half, and then quickly against Lyon in the ninth work. Behind 4-2, Jimmy Rollins led with a single, and Ryan Howard followed with a single of his own. After a pop out, Ben Francisco hit another single to score Rollins from third parties, and then Carlos Ruiz hit another single to load the bases.
The coupling was run only 90 yards, and Wilson Valdez bind wasted little time things. The John Mayberry brought to the plate as a pinch-hitter on a 2-2 pitch and he hit a liner over Bourn head in the middle. Mayberry got credit for a single and the stadium erupted in celebration of the Phillies' dramatic.
Astros, this is about as demoralizing when they solace in the fact that can take other NL Central Door Closer John Axford and Ryan Franklin also blew saves Thursday. The series continues Saturday, with Wandy Rodriguez and Cliff Lee.