Jimmy Rollins, Cole Homels shine as Phillies avoid white wash against D-Backs

Philadelphia Phillies clicked with both bat and pitch to clinch an important victory in the last game of the three game series against Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, on Wednesday and avoided their first clean sweep against Diamondbacks in almost four
years.

Phillies’ batters took three run lead in the very first inning of the game that set the tone of the game. Cole Hamels than restrict the D-Backs’ batters to score freely while Phillies’ batters scored runs after regular intervals to strengthen Phillies’ grip
over the game.

In the first two games of the series, Phillies couldn’t able to perform with the bat and the pitch simultaneously. They completely spoiled the
Cliff Lee‘s solid start in the first game of the series which they eventually lost by four runs without contributing a single run in the game. In the second game, batters stepped up and mount respectable five runs
but they still lost by 7-5 as starter, Roy Oswalt, wasn’t completely okay. However in Wednesday’s game, batters and the pitchers combined to give the necessary win, with Jimmy Rollins and Cole Homels the main contributor.

Cole Homels, who was horribly wrong in his first start of the season, has started to lift his game and showing his potential. He came back strongly after going for six runs off 2.2 innings in his first start and managed to reduce his ERA to decent 3.13.
He pitched seven solid innings, going for three runs in four hits and a walk while striking out seven hitters. Antonio Bastardo replaced him and gave a run in the eighth inning while Ryan Madson threw the scoreless ninth inning.  

D-Backs’ starter Joe Saunders lost his third game of the season with six runs in 5.2 innings. Juan Gutierrez and J.J Putz pitched one-run inning each while Josh Collmenter added a perfect inning to his stats.

Scoring Summary:

1^st inning:

 Shane Victorino opened the scoring for Phillies with his run on Jimmy Rollins’ double to the left field, Placido Polanco reached to third base.

Polanco and Rollins then continued to complete their run on Ben Francisco’s ground hit to the deep left field, 3-0 lead for Phillies at the end of the first inning.

2^nd inning:

Victorino increased the Phillies lead to four with his solo home run to left centre.

Stephen Drew scored the first run for the D-Backs on Melvin Mora’s double to left field, 4-1 for the Phillies.

5^th inning:

Rollins hit his first homer of the season; a two run shot to the left that allowed Polanco to complete his run, making it 6-1 for the Phillies.

6^th inning:

Chris Young hit a two run shot to the left, J Miranda scored, 6-3 at the end of the sixth inning.

7^th inning:

Polanco scored on Brian Schneider’s walk, 7-3 for the Phillies.

8^th inning:

Young hit his second homer of the game to reduce the Phillies lead to 3

9^th inning:

Ryan Howard blasted his fourth home run of the season making it 8-4 for the Phillies.

Final Score: Philadelphia Phillies 8-4 Arizona Diamondbacks