Phils Sink Pirates, 12-1

As jaded as I can usually be when it comes to the Phillies, I have to admit that I loved every minute of yesterday’s game against the Pirates. It was very heartening to see the Phils bat around the lineup in the fifth, to see that they can play small-ball and not have to rely on the brute force strategy that they are so accustomed to at Citizens Bank Park.

When Pittsburgh went up by one in the second, many Philadelphia fans (myself included) started to think, “Here we go.” However, that mood soon changed when all-star Bobby Abreu crushed a grand slam into deep right field in the third.

Abreu’s homer supercharged this normally lethargic Phillies lineup. The fifth inning quickly turned into batting practice for the Phils as they batted around the lineup, scoring 6 runs. The Phils scored a run in both the seventh and the ninth. The Pirates, after their sole run in the second, were blanked for the rest of the game.

The game was extremely promising. I realize that they beat up on the one of the weakest kids in the schoolyard, the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it illustrated the point that this team can get the job done when it comes to hitting.

A lot of responsibility comes with being an all-star, and part of that means being a team leader. Abreu will need to stand up and lead this team to victory if they are going to win.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar