Sunday, April 8, 2012

2007 Upper Deck #873 Rod Barajas

Happy Easter!

Pirates 2, Phillies 1 (10 Innings)
Game 2 - Saturday Night, April 7th in Pittsburgh
Record - 1-1, 2nd Place in N.L. East, 1 game behind the Nationals and Mets

One Sentence Summary:  For the second game in a row, the Phillies managed just a lone run, falling in extras to the Pirates, 2-1.

What It Means:  Queue the talk about the "aging" and "punchless" offense.  The Phils have scored three runs in their last 36 innings of play, dating back to Game 4 of the 2011 N.L.D.S.

What Went Wrong:  The Phillies scored a quick first inning run on singles from Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco.  Jimmy Rollins, with his first sac bunt since August 14, 2009, moved the runners over and Victorino scored on Hunter Pence's infield single.  And that was it for the offense.

Cliff Lee had one rough inning in his debut outing of 2012.  In the sixth, he walked Yamaico Navarro and Navarro eventually came in to score on a rare wild pitch from Lee.  In total, Lee allowed just two hits and the lone run in his six innings of work.

Former Phillie and perennial nemesis Rod Barajas started the Pirates rally with a lead-off double in the tenth off Joe Blanton.  Michael McHenry came in to pinch-run for Barajas, and he'd eventually score following a sac bunt and an infield single.

Featured Card:  Barajas' time in red pinstripes is not favorably remembered.  During his one season with the Phils, Barajas hit .230 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs in 48 games.  Most fans remember his failure to block the plate during a game with the Marlins in May 2007.  Since he's left town, he's killed the Phillies.  After last night's double, he's now hitting .333 (21 for 63) with five doubles, eight home runs and 19 RBIs in his 20 games against his former team.  This is one of Barajas' few Phillies baseball cards that was released back in '07.

And One More Thing:  Happy 8th birthday Chachi!

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