The series that everyone had anticipated got underway in the first inning when Troy Tulowitzki (that’s T-U-L-O-W-I-T-Z-K-I) and MVP candidate Matt Holliday launched back-to-back homers off rookie starter Kyle Kendrick.
Tulowitzki’s shot was a CBP Special that scraped the flower planters in left-center before bouncing back onto the field. Charlie Manuel argued a bit, but it was a lost cause.
Holliday’s homer was struck with such ferocity that it seemed as if he was trying to get back at someone. It was angry and it went a long, long way.
Kendrick settled in to retire the side and carried on relatively unscathed to the third inning (which is where the game is as I write this). Kaz Matsui doubled to lead off the third, but was left stranded there.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Phillies, as he and Holliday appear to be dueling one another as if fighting it out for the MVP Award. Rollins smacked the first pitch thrown by Franklin Morales deep into the seats in the power alley in left and the crowd was finally given a chance to get into it.
Apropos, Rollins’ stroke was smooth and pure and the ball carried out of the yard like a perfectly thrown Frisbee, never gaining a course of altitude that was too gaudy.
Chase Utley followed the homer with his fifth straight whiff.
Rollins continued his MVP duel and put the Phillies ahead in the second with a two-run, two-out triple in the second. He slid into third, but that was just for show – the pop up slide and the point to the heavens looks better on TV than if he goes in standing up.
Anyway, the Phillies have a lead. Let’s see what they do with it.
Cole Hamels seems to have settled in after that clunker of a second inning. After Walking Troy Tulowitzki to force in a run, the Phils’ lefty has retired seven straight hitters, including three on strikeouts.
Apropos of nothing Tulowitzki is one of those names that I have to read as I spell it. T-U-L-O-W-I-T-Z-K-I. Is that right? I’m always afraid I’m going to spell it wrong… like Zolecki.