(6/24/10)
Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of a shoddy defense and a strong outing from Joe Blanton to dismantle the Cleveland Indians 12-3 and sweep their three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.
Joe Blanton (3-5) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out eight. Blanton was given plenty of run support as the Philles went 15-37 from the plate.
After a slow first inning for the Phillies the team put up big numbers in the second scoring five runs on four hits, all of them singles.
Placido Polanco went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Chase Utley went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two runs scored to lead the Phillies attack.
After a rough first inning Indians closer Fausto Carmona (6-6) rebounded setting the Phillies down in order in the third and fourth before both teams added on runs in the fifth.
Cleveland’s first runs came on a one-out two run home run by ex Phillies prospect Jason Donald. Donald’s shot was his second of the season and his first against the Phillies since he was dealt in the trade that brought Cliff Lee to Philadelphia at last season’s trade deadline.
The Phillies added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Ryan Howard fielder’s choice that scored Placido Polanco and a Jayson Werth single that plated Chase Utley.
After the Werth single Indians manager Manny Acta sent Carmona to the showers. Carmona allowed seven runs on nine hits without recording a strikeout.
No matter the pitcher the Phillies were hitting as they batted around on newly inserted Indian Hector Ambriz and charged him with four runs in the sixth inning including a Dane Sardinha lead off home run.
The four run sixth inning made the score 12-2.
A late unsuccessful Indian rally came in the eighth innings when Jason Donald led off the inning with a double and one out later Trevor Crowe launched a double to the left field corner that scored Donald from second.
Nelson Figueroa, whom was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier in the pitched 1 1/3 innings of hit-less ball to close out the game for the Phillies.
The Phillies will be back in action on Friday as they open a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. The series will be played with AL rules due to the fact the series was moved from Toronto because of the G-20 summit. The Phillies will play as the visitors and bat first.
Box Score
Game Notes: Ryan Howard blew his seven game hitting streak by going 0-3… This is the Phillies’ first home sweep this season and their first interleague sweep since 2007.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com