The Phillies looked to put the Rockies on the brink of elimination from the 2009 division series as the teams played Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park.
Ninth Inning: Manager Charlie Manuel put out all the stops in the bottom of the ninth as he called on Ben Francisco and Matt Stairs to pinch hit. Stairs walked and Cliff Lee came in to run for Stairs.
Jimmy Rollins got a hit to put the winning run on base. But, with two-out, Shane Victorino lined out to end the game.
Ryan Madson was electric easily shutting down the Rockies in a 1-2-3 inning.
Eighth Inning: Jayson Werth showed his worth as he knocked a long homer to cut the lead to 5-4.
Brett Myers came into the game but struggled with his command hitting his first batter, walking the second and intentionally walking another hitter. But, the Phils made it out unscathed after Antonio Bastardo came in to strike out Jason Giambi.
Seventh Inning: It seemed that more than baseball was on Cole Hamels mind Thursday. He left the ballpark to be with his wife as she gave birth to the couple's first child.
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Joe Blanton was taken out after allowing two base runners in the frame. Another potential Game 3 starter J.A. Happ replaced him.
Happ promptly was hurt after the first batter he faced, Seth Smith, smashed a ball off Happ's leg. Happ left the game with the bases loaded. X-rays on the leg were negative.
It was looking more like it will be Pedro Martinez starting Saturday night.
Scott Eyre came to the rescue only allowing one runner to score while putting down three Rockies batters. Phils down 5-3.
The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame.
Sixth Inning: Possible Game 3 starter Blanton came in from the bullpen to replace Cole Hamels. It looks like Blanton won't be starting in Colorado this weekend.
The big righty faired better than Hamels as he put down the Rockies in order.
Talking about big guys -- Ryan Howard finally got the Phillies on the board with an RBI double to make it 4-1. Howard's double chased Aaron Cook with no one out in the inning.
Jose Contreras came in to get Werth to strike out. But, Raul Ibanez picked right back up where he was Wednesday by knocking home Chase Utley and Howard to make it 4-3.
But Contreras was able to end the threat by getting Carlos Ruiz to top into a double play.
Fifth Inning: Hamels' troubles continued as he allowed back-to-back hits to Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook and leadoff man Carlos Gonzalez before Dexter Fowler knocked a long fly out to sacrifice home Cook. Rockies lead 4-0.
Hamels was five and done as Greg Dobbs pinch hit for the Phillies starter in the bottom of the inning. But, it didn't matter as the Phillies failed to score, again.
Fourth Inning: Hamels got himself into trouble as he allowed a leadoff single to Rockies star Todd Helton. Hamels would retire the next two hitters before allowing a two-run homer to Yorvit Torrealba.
Rockies starter Cook continued to strike down the Phillies by keeping the ball on the ground. He got Werth to ground into the Phillies second-double play in the bottom of the frame.
Third Inning: Howard made a nice play to catch Gonzalez at second after Hamels caught the Rockies' outfielder trying to steal -- Rockies still up 1-0.
In the bottom of the inning the Phils wasted a leadoff walk by Hamels and single by Victorino.
Second Inning: In the top of the inning Phillies starter Hamels really reached down to strike out back-to-back Rockies hitters after allowing an infield single to Torrealba.
In the bottom half Ibanez got on with a single but was stranded as Cook struck out Pedro Feliz and Ruiz.
First Inning: Hamels gave up as many runs in the first inning as Cliff Lee gave up all nine innings Thursday. The Rockies used Gonzalez's speed to take the early 1-0 lead. But, Hamels was able to get a double play to prevent any further damage.
In the bottom of the inning Victorino was able to muster the Phillies first hit but the Phillies failed to capitalize.
