We'll Put A Boot In Your Ass: Phillies 9, Marlins 7

Things are happening, guys.

This was almost a classic 2012 Phillies game. Roy Halladay was OK, but not great. The offense scored a bunch of runs and ran the bases smartly, but the bullpen coughed up a bunch of ticky-tack runs and let the Marlins crawl back into it. A couple of hits strung together, or a walk and a homer, and the game would have been tied and I would have probably died because this was totally the longest game ever, guys.

But instead, we got Phillippe "Foh Foh Foh!" Aumont and Jonathan "Yes, I walked out to that nationalistic Toby Keith song" Papelbon shutting down the Marlins in the 8th and 9th innings, and then the game was over. Blessedly, blessedly over.

So what else happened tonight? Every single starter, even Halladay, had a hit tonight. In his return to the starting lineup, Carlos Ruiz had a hit and an RBI. Domonic Brown had two hits, and no, I don't particularly want to talk about what he did with the other three at-bats during which he did not hit. Chase Utley went 3-for-3 with two walks. One of those walks was earned when Ozzie Guillen decided to walk pinch hitter Kevin Frandsen to get to Utley, which might be one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. (Stupider than intentionally walking Michael Martinez to get to Cole Hamels? You decide!) Juan Pierre went 3-for-4, and he's having such a good season that the Orioles apparently want him, but the Phillies won't give him up. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm going to have to write a post apologizing for booing the TV whenever he appeared on it back in April. Sometimes, you gotta eat the humble pie. Jimmy Rollins had three RBI, two from a homer he hit in the 6th inning. Funny story about that home run! Rollins had popped up behind the plate, and it looked like young catcher Rob Brantly was going to catch it for an out. But no! He missed it, and on the next pitch Rollins homered. Brantly wasn't very happy with himself.

The Phillies are back at the .500 mark for the first time since June 4 (that's 13 weeks ago), and they've won six straight games. Things are happening. Everyone seems to be getting a feeling. The crowd at CBP sounded absolutely electric tonight. I'm not going to say what is exactly happening, but the Phillies do love playing in September. I think everyone should start paying attention. (As if you're not already.)

On a non-sportsy note, I was so tired and loopy tonight because I gave blood earlier today. Not because it's September 11, but because I give blood every 2-3 months. If you can, please consider donating blood. It's so important. It's not a hard thing to do, and it's not even very painful. Plus, you feel awesome about yourself when you're done. And? Free juice and cookies!

Fangraph of HIGH HOPES, BITCHES.

Source: FanGraphs