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Nelson Figueroa pitched five strong innings, and homers by Werth and Ibanez helped the Phillies tie the series against the Diamondbacks.
There were three basic storylines to Saturday's game against the D-backs: Nelson Figueroa, the bullpen, and Jayson Werth.
Let's start with Figueroa. Nelson Figueroa last pitched for the Phillies 8 years ago. He wouldn't be starting if it wasn't for injuries to Blanton and Happ and there weren't many expectations for him. But he pitched well, going five innings and gave up 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.
He wasn't dazzling, but he worked out of jams and kept the Phillies in the game. As well as he pitched, he left with a 2-1 deficit after giving up a two-run homer to Kelly Johnson, his third homer of the series.
Then there was the bullpen. They were asked to pitch four innings and they gave up zero runs. Durbin pitched two innings and they had scoreless innings from Contreras and Madson.
Then there was Jayson Werth. In hockey terms he was a +3. He started things off with his glove in the first inning. With one out and runners on first and second, Werth caught a shallow fly near the right field foul line. Both runners tried to tag, and Werth threw out Justin Upton on his way to second base.
Then he let his bat do the talking. In the second inning, he delivered a massive shot that reached the center field seats way above the 413 sign. Then, with the game tied at two with two outs in the top of the ninth, he hit another solo shot that caromed off the center field wall and above the yellow line for a homer.
Raul Ibanez delivered the tying run with a solo shot in the seventh inning. Madson closed the door in the ninth with a scoreless inning and excellent command.
The Phils will attempt to win the series tomorrow with Kyle Kendrick on the mound.
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