Seems like there's nothing the Phillies' hitters like more than having Joe Blanton on the mound. Once again, the offense came through with the right-hander on the mound, plating 11 runs in support of a very good pitching performance, en route to an 11-4 Phillies victory tonight in South Florida.
Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz paced the team's offensive attack with three hits and four RBI, including one of the Phillies' four home runs. Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, and Greg Dobbs also all went deep.
Blanton, for his part, threw six strong innings, allowing just a single run on a solo home run from Logan Morrison. Blanton struck out eight and walked two. Marlins' starter Andrew Miller was once again tattooed by the Phillies' offense, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in just five innings pitched.
It wasn't all positive, as reliever David Herndon turned in another poor performance in what has been an up-and-(mostly) down season for the Rule V kid. Herndon allowed three runs on three hits (all for extra bases) in his one complete inning of work in the eighth. Yes, of course he had that rope because of the huge lead his teammates staked him to, but still. Yecch.
The Braves shut out the Nationals, 4-0, so the Phillies remain one game up in the National League Eastern Division.
