Hamels impressive, Howard to the rescue

Ryan Howard saved the day with his 35th home run in 2009

If a player were to earn a save Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, it would have to be Ryan Howard. Howard's clutch three run home run in the tenth inning made up for Ryan Madson's blown save on a night when Cole Hamels showed signs of brilliance once again. The Phillies took game two of the three game set by a score of 4-1 in ten innings.

It had been a bumpy road for Hamels of late, but he turned in one of his best performances of the season. Hamels pitched eight complete innings of shut out baseball, scattering seven hits and working out of a bases loaded jam early on. He walked two batters and struck out seven. This was the Hamels that the Phillies will lead for the rest of the season and into a possible post season.

Chase Utley gave Hamels an early 1-0 lead with a two out solo home run in the first inning. Utley's run would be all the scoring in the game until the ninth inning.

With the Phillies looking for some much needed breathing room and the bases loaded Charlie Manuel opted to use Matt Stairs to pinch hit for Hamels. Stairs was patient but grounded out on what appeared to be a fourth ball. A walk would have forced in Howard from third base and kept the inning alive with a 2-0 lead. Instead the Pirates were given a chance to tie the game in the ninth, as they did the previous night.

With Brad Lidge getting a much needed night off the game was handed over to Madson, who has previously struggled in the closer role this season. After recording the first out and throwing some serious heat, Madson was taken deep to right center field by pinch hitter Brandon Moss. Moss had tied the game the previous night with a pinch hit appearance with a single. This time he did so with a solo home run. But the Pirates failed to do any more damage and would have to take their chances in extra innings.

Jimmy Rollins worked a lead off walk in the tenth off of Pirates reliever Steven Jackson. Shane Victorino followed with a base hit, which allowed Rollins to advance to third. After Utley flied out to shallow center field up stepped Howard. The big man wasted no time and delivered a crushing home run to right field on the first pitch he saw from Pirates reliever Phil Dumatrait. the momentum had been taken back by the road team and Madson came back for the bottom of the tenth.

Madson gave up a lead off single but got a fly out and a game ending double play to secure the victory for the Phillies.

There is something about the Pirates. They may not be a good team but they are full of young players who always seem to give the Phillies the fits. Before tonight Howard had hit just two home runs off of Pittsburgh pitchers and was hitting well below .200. None of that mattered in the extra frame though as Howard bailed the team out.

It was encouraging to see Hamels pitched as well as he did. Now let's see how he does in his next game, which will come in September against the San Francisco Giants. The Giants will be desperate for a win as they try to climb back into the wild card picture.

Next up for the Phillies will be the series finale in Pittsburgh Thursday night. JA Happ looks to pick up another win and demonstrate why he should be the NL Rookie of the Year. Charlie Morton will take the mound for the Pirates.