Herrera powers Phillies past White Sox
PHILADELPHIA -- Odubel Herrera went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, two stolen bases and three RBIs to power the Phillies to a 7-6 win over the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.
The Phillies centerfielder, after a slow July and August that trailed into the beginning of September, has suddenly regained the form that made him an All-Star for the first time this season.
Over his last seven games, Herrera is now 15-for-28 (.535) with two home runs, four doubles and six RBIs.
Herrera helped the Phillies (68-83) take a 7-3 lead. The White Sox (72-79) plated three in the ninth off Phillies reliever Jeanmar Gomez, including a two-out, two-RBI double by Adam Eaton, before Michael Mariot was able to retire Tim Anderson on a groundout to short for his first career save.
Herrera wasn't the only Phillies hitter to have a good night at the plate against James Shields (5-18, 7.11 ERA), who lasted 5 1/3 innings before getting pulled after giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits. First baseman Tommy Joseph went 2-3 with an RBI double of his own as the Phillies' 2-3-4 hitters went a combined 7-for-11 with five runs scored and six RBIs.
Phillies starter Jake Thompson (3-5) went five innings for the win.
In the first inning, Herrera sent a 1-1 offering from Shields over the centerfield wall and into the Phillies' bullpen, scoring Roman Quinn and giving his team a 2-0 lead with his 15th home run of the year.
After a three-run home run by Chicago's Melky Cabrera briefly put the White Sox up one in the top of the third, a single by Herrera and subsequent stolen base allowed him to even the game at 3 on an RBI double by Joseph in the bottom of the inning.
The Phillies went ahead 4-3 on the next at-bat, when third baseman Maikel Franco sent a ball up the middle that shortstop Tim Anderson couldn't quite handle, allowing Joseph to score from second.
Herrera's third time up, in the fifth inning, his single to right past a drawn-in infield brought home Quinn, making it a 5-3 lead.
Quinn broke the game open in the sixth inning with a one-out, two-RBI single to make it 7-3 and finally chase Shields.
Aside from the third inning, Thompson was effective for the fifth consecutive start, going five innings while giving up those three runs on four hits.
He's 2-2 with a 2.97 ERA in his last five starts after beginning his career by going 1-3 with a 9.78 ERA through his first four appearances.
NOTES: Tuesday's tilt is the first of a two-game interleague series. The clubs will finish out the year with 10 games against more familiar opponents; Chicago has three at Cleveland, four vs. Tampa Bay and three against Minnesota while Philadelphia has four at the New York Mets, three at Atlanta and three at home versus the Mets. ... Entering Tuesday night, Philadelphia's starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts, their longest such stretch since July 1-20, 2000 (17 straight). ... Wednesday's matchup pits Philadelphia RHP Jerad Eickhoff (10-14, 3.74 ERA) against Chicago LHP Chris Sale (16-8, 3.03).