The look on Cliff Lee's face was priceless.
The Phillies dugout had exploded in a spontaneous celebration at the moment Eric Kratz deposited a pitch from Reds' closer Aroldis Chapman deep into the left-field seats to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
All but Lee.
The Phillies starter held his head in his hands, disconsolate. That's because Lee knew the game should have been over at that point. The Phillies leadoff hitter in the inning, Delmon Young, had worked a walk against Chapman, who was clearly struggling with his location. Lee had been sent out to pinch-run. And then the unthinkable happened. Lee got picked off. It didn't take a lip-reader to gauge Lee's exasperation at this fundamental error as he trotted off the field.
But when Kratz connected, Lee was off the hook, except for the fact that instead of tying the game, Lee knew Kratz and the rest of the Phils actually should have been celebrating a walk-off two-run homer.
But instead of heading for extra innings, Freddy Galvis really got Lee off the hook. The utility man who was in the game at third base because Michael Young was at first for the injured Ryan Howard, hit a bullet that tucked just inside the foul pole in left. This time Lee was the first out of the dugout to greet Galvis as he crossed the plate.
It was a good one for the Phils, giving them a 3-2 mark on the homestand.
But a new rash of injuries are forming a cloud over the team. Catcher Carlos Ruiz tweaked a hamstring during the game yesterday. He left the game and will have an MRI today. He will be joined in the MRI line by Ryan Howard, who sat a second straight day with a sore knee.
There might be one bright spot in all this. The Phillies need to get Galvis and his bat into the lineup. This might present just the opportunity to do it.
Now it's on to Miami for three against the lowly Marlins. Struggling starter Cole Hamels will be on the mound tonight. It would be the perfect opportunity for Hamels to take command and starter reversing his miserable 1-6 start.
The Phils need to be thinking sweep in this series. Before any more injuries catch up with them.
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