Old School Live Blog: Phillies @ Cubs

It is a Friday afternoon, the Phillies are on, and I have nothing to do, so I figured why not put up an old-school AA-style live blog. The game is starting at 2:20 ET and can be locally on CSN Philly and CSN Chicago. For those out of market, you can take advantage of MLB Extra Innings' Free Preview week. I don't know about other cable outlets that carry it, but it should be 721 (CSN Philly feed) and 722 (CSN Chicago feeed) on DirecTV.

Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41) and Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08) are the starting pitchers. Translation: This game could set the season high for most runs scored in a game.

Good news for the Phillies: Chase Utley has had the cast removed from his thumb and should be able to resume baseball activities in 3 weeks. Placido Polanco can return to the Phillies as early as tomorrow or Sunday.

Live blog after the jump!


Phillies starting line-up.
SS Rollins
CF Victorino
RF Werth
1B Howard
LF Francisco
3B Ransom
C Ruiz
2B Valdez
P Blanton

Cubs starting line-up
2B Theriot
RF Colvin
1B Lee
3B Ramirez
CF Byrd
LF Soriano
SS Castro
C Soto
P Lilly

Yes, T-Mac, the Cubs and Brewers are in a dead heat in their division, both a whopping 9 games out of 1st place.

Top of the 1st

Jimmy Rollins takes a 1st pitch strike. Then flies out to Alfonso Soriano who made an amazing falling catch.

Victorino launches one foul, as T-Mac wrongly claims that was in the Bartman area. He had the correct side, but the Bartman play was nowhere near that deep. Victorino strikes out.

Jayson Werth and his miraculous beard are now at the plate. 1-1. 2-2. Is this really going to be a 1-2-3 inning? Sigh. It is.

Bottom of the 1st

Joe Blanton strikes out Theriot. The Donut Man gets off to a good start, but that has happened before and the finishes have not been strong.

Colvin flies out to centerfield. Nice start, Joe. I'm impressed.......a little.

And another quick fly out, this time to Werth.

What was all this I was saying about lots of runs?

Phillies 0 0 0
Cubs 0 0 0
End 1

Top of the 2nd

Ryan Howard, league-leader in a meaningless stat, is at the plate. Did Chris Wheeler just say, "we are so high up here?" Oh boy. Meanwhile, full count to The Big Piece. Howard flies out on that next pitch. What is it with today and fly outs at Wrigley?

Ben Francisco, the after-thought of the Cliff Lee deal grounds out on the 2nd pitch of the AB.

Cody "At Least I'm not Brian Bocock" Ransom is hitting 6th. 3-0 count after Lilly pitched one to the guy in the 3rd row. Ted Lilly, fly out pitcher. Bye Bye Cody.

Bottom of the 2nd

Aramis Ramirez now faces Fat Joe as he hopes to continue the string of perfect pitching. Liner goes right to Francisco in left. Looks like he caught that one with the end of his bat.

Marlon Byrd has never gotten a hit against Joe Blob? 0 for 6? Wow, this guy was an all-star? 2-2 count to Byrd. Single for Byrd! His 1st hit ever off Blanton and the 1st hit of the game.

Soriano up. DOUBLE PLAY! Excellent grab by Ransom, perfect throw to Valdez, who threw it to Howard to complete the double play.

Phillies 0 0 0
Cubs 0 1 0
End 2

Top of the 3rd

Joe Girardi is such a jackass... (kt1000)

Truest statement of the day.

Chooch is batting against a perfect Ted Lilly. Surprise, surprise. Another fly out.

Wilson Valdez is up. The good news here is he can't ground into a double play. The bad news is he can still ground one. 1-1 count. And it's bye-bye Exxon.

Pastry Joe is at the plate and has managed to work a 2-1 count. But he pops it up anyway.

Bottom of the 3rd

Castro leads off the inning in the Northside part of the city. Quick foul out.

Geovany (who the heck spells it like that?) Soto now takes his turn against Bazooka Joe. Strike out after a 2-2 count.

Ted Lilly starts his AB off with a 1-1 count. And a called strike 3 sends Ted Lilly to the bench wondering how on earth Joe Blanton has only given up 1 hit to this point?

No....really. Since when does one spell the Italian name Giovanni as "Geovany?"

Phillies 0 0 0
Cubs 0 1 0
End 3

Rollins leads off and is quickly sent to the bench. Can we at least make Ted Lilly work here?

A SHANE VICTORINO HOME RUN WILL WORK AS WELL!!!!!!! 1-0 PHILS! Clearly it was the Little Debbie marshmellow pie I ate during the last commercial that made the difference.

And now Jayson Werth will flail aimlessly at pitches down the middle. Or just not swing at all.

Ryan Howard does not take long to line one out the opposite way. That inning is over but at least Victorino has turned a perfect game bid into a Phillies lead with 1 swing of the bat.

"I give up" - Jayson Werth's Beard on Twitter.

Never give up, oh great beard of awesomeness. Never give up.

Bottom of the 4th

Theriot's 2nd AB of the game. And it is a 1-pitch line out to Ben Francisco.

Colvin sends the 2nd pitch of the AB deep to the warning track right into Francisco's waiting glove.

Derrek Lee flew out in the 1st. In this inning, he'll hope to see more than 2 pitches. SUCCESS! But he lines out to end the inning.

Phillies 1 1 0
Cubs 0 1 0
End 4

Those are some giant ass rings Sarge is sporting... (kt1000)

At least the quick 1st 3 innings has gotten this game to Sarge's awful/awesomeness quicker.

Top of the 5th

50 minutes after this game started, it is already the top of the 5th. 2-2 count to Ben Francisco. If nothing else, at least Francisco is working Lilly's count a bit here. Full count now. Next pitch is a called strike 3 that Francisco does not agree with.

Cody Ransom with a 1st pitch single! Runner on 1st and 1 down for Chooch. Chooch lines one to left center! Ransom to 3rd and it is runners at the corners with 1 out just in time for Valdez to GIDP!

Random note no one cares about: my cat is snoring behind me. For realz.

Now to Valdez and his 0-2 count soon to be an inning ending double play. Ball in the dirt is stopped by Soto from getting away. If that gets away, Ransom scores. 1-2 now to Exxon Valdez. 2-2. This is the Ted Lilly I expected to see. It only took, a few innings, but we finally got there. I just dread when the Joe Blanton I expected to see shows up. Lilly fights back and strikes out. Valdez could have done much better with that AB.

Aspeaking of The Fat Man, here he is! Was Blanton swinging for the fences there? Oof. 1-1 count. Blanton has 1 career HR. He hit it in Game 4 of the 2008 World Series. At least he knows the best time to hit them. Blanton worked a 2-2 count before striking out and ending the inning.

Bottom of the 5th

For only the 2nd time today, Aramis Ramirez steps to the plate. And he does not take long to swing for a single up the middle. Phillies are going to regret not doing better in the top of this inning.

Marlon Byrd's turn at the plate. Count currently at 1-1. Line out to Victorino sends Ramirez scrambling back to 1st.

Alfonso Soriano's turn to face the bagel store's favorite pitcher. Blanton gets behind Soriano 3-0. And it's a walk. Runners on 1st and 2nd with one out.

Starlin Castro to the plate. Bounced to short. Rollins' only play is to 1st and he makes it. Runners at 2nd and 3rd with 2 out and Geovany (no typo) Soto.

Blanton getting out of this would be huge. They are intentionally walking Soto to get to the pitcher, Ted Lilly. I can't say I fault that decision, provided Lilly does not hit a HR out of nowhere (totally possible against Blanton).

Foul ball by Lilly starts the count off right for Bazooka Joe. Swing and a miss for strike 2. Check swing.......didn't go all the way. 1-2 count. Pitch down low evens up the count. COME ON JOE!!! Another low pitch! DAMN IT JOE! DO NOT WALK THE FREAKIN' PITCHER!!!!!! The payoff pitch..........fouled. Here we go again.....and Donut Joe just walked the pitcher with the bases loaded. Are you kidding me? Tie game. 1-1.

Now Theriot is at the plate with the bases loaded. Theriot lines it up the middle to end the inning and save further embarrassment, but the damage may already have been done. With the bases loaded and 2 down in a 1-run game, Blanton walked a pitcher with 0 ability to hit a baseball. That's inexcusable.

Phillies 1 3 0
Cubs 1 2 0
End 5

Top of the 6th

Jimmy Rollins leads off the inning for the Phillies. And is quickly down in the count 0-2. Rollins predictably ends that AB by striking out.

Last time up, Shane Victorino hit a solo HR to give the Phillies their run of the game. Another one here would sure be nice. But it is another 0-2 hole. And he gone on the K.

Jayson Werth is at the plate now, having struck out twice already. This time the count starts 2-0. And it becomes a 4-pitch walk! Well done to the Beard!

Big Piece time. 0-1 to Howard who has flown out twice today. The pitch goes between Soto's legs and Werth takes 2nd with ease. HOWARD SMACKS ONE TO CENTER!!!!!!! 3-1 PHILLIES!!!!!

That home run will give the Phillies some breathing room before Manuel leaves Blanton in the game for too long and a meltdown ensues.

Francisco does not last long at the plate as the 3rd out is recorded. Howard's home run has done it's damage, though. And not only was it a homer against a lefty (cuz, u know, like omg, howard sux against lefties), it was Howard's 3rd of the series and this may be the gas he needs to take off in the 2nd half of the season.

Bottom of the 6th

Colvin quickly finds himself down in a 1-2 count to lead off the bottom of the 6th. Pitch gets away from Chooch, but with no one on base, it is no problem. Full count to Colvin. Swing and a miss! Down goes Colvin!

Derrek Lee at the plate now. Lee back on the bench now after being struck out by Fat Joe, who is been getting it poppin thus far today (see what I did there?), though walking the pitcher with the bases loaded is a notable exception.

Ramirez with a double as Victorino struggled a bit to field it at first.

Marlon Byrd ties the game with a 1st pitch home run. 3-3. A guy who coming into the game had 0 hits against Joe Blanton in 6 official ABs now has 2 today, including a game-tying home run. And with the 2010 Joe Blanton, that was inevitable.

Soriano looks to prolong this Blanton meltdown. Soriano does strike out, so the damage is limited to a tie game, but regardless, Blanton is starting to fall apart. Phillies should be getting their bull pen prepped. Blanton can't go anymore in this game.

Phillies 3 4 0
Cubs 3 4 0
End 6

Top of the 7th

Disturbing fact: The Phillies once traded Marlon Byrd for Endy Chavez. Feel free to laugh.

Cody Ransom starts the inning by flying out. There is a surprise. (/not really)

Byrd did the Sammy Sosa shake out of the box then ran around the bases as fast as the ball traveled out of the ballpark. Awesome! (49er16)

1-2 count to Chooch. Fly out to left field.

Valdez up and he can't hit into a double play. That's a good thing. Instead he just completes the trifecta of fly outs in the top of the 7th.

Bottom of the 7th

BREAKING NEWS: Keith Moreland will not be asked to sign a record deal any time soon.

Starlin Castro facing Donut Joe, who is inexplicably still pitching this game. O/U on Cubs runs this inning: 4.5. Single for Castro. Here we go.

Errant throw by Blanton on the throw to first means Castro takes 2nd. Error charged to Fat Joe. Even worse news: he is behind 2-0 to Soto. Soto swings and misses. 2-1. Another one. 2-2. Line drive....Nice grab by Werth! Castro tags and goes. Throw to 3rd is cut off by Rollins.

The ever dangerous Lilly is about to approach the plate as Blanton meets with pitching "coach" Rich Dubee. Never mind, it is Fukudome pinch-hitting for Lilly, who is done for the day. Struck him out!

Ryan Theriot comes to the plate. Can Blanton get out of this still tied at 3? 1-0 count. 1-1 now. Full count. The payoff pitch......fouled. One more time.....GOT HIM!

Phillies 3 4 1
Cubs 3 5 0
End 7

Top of the 8th

Sean Marshall steps into pitch for Lilly and instantly strikes out Juan Castro, who pinch-hit for Cookie Joe. Outside of that whole walk to the pitcher, he was not awful this game. That's a big plus for him. Heck, could I even say he was adequate and serviceable?

Rollins goew down. Bleh.

Victorino up. Lines one hard but right to Soriano. Easy inning for Sean Marshall.

Bottom of the 8th

Ryan Madson is stepping in to pitch this 8th inning.

Tyler Colvin flies out to Werth.

Derrek Lee follows suit.

Now it is Aramis Ramirez, who is 2 for 3 thus far today. 2-2 count as a random ball flies on the field from the bull pen. Full count. The pay off pitch.......is hit out of the ballpark. Literally. 4-3 Cubs.

Well that is quite aggravating.

Soriano to the plate now as the Phillies now face the very real prospect of losing their 1st 2 games after the all-star break. 1-2 to Byrd. Byrd grounds out to keep the game manageable. It is a 1-run game, but it is the 9th inning coming up.

Phillies 3 4 1
Cubs 4 6 0
End 8

Top of the 9th

Carlos Marmol enters the game to pitch for the Cubs. Werth, Howard, and Francisco are due up in this top of the 9th.

First up it's Werth. Slider is taken for strike 1 to Werth. Another slider, another called strike. 3rd straight called strike. That was just embarrassing. 1 down in the 9th.

Ryan Howard time. If ever a moment called for Howard to put his 2nd half of the season awesomeness to good use, now is the time. 1st pitch is taken inside for Ball 1. Next pitch is a swinging strike. 1-1 count. Down low for ball 2. Outside for ball 3. 3-1 count. Ryan Howard swings at a slider and ball 4. Full count. Money pitch is a swinging strike. 2 down with no one on.

The Phillies last hope in this game is Ben Francisco. He takes a called strike. Swing and a miss and it is an 0-2 hole for Francisco. In the dirt, ball 1. Inside pitch evens up the count. Called strike 3 ends the game. 4-3 Cubs win.

Phillies 3 4 1
Cubs 4 6 0
FINAL

That was depressing and frustrating to watch as the Cubs are not a very good team. Thanks for joining me for this impromptu matinee Phillies live blog and good night!