The Official Site of Chase Utley

Sat, Jul 30th 2011, 08:00

Utley, Halladay lead way as Phils batter Bucs

PHILADELPHIA — Without Hunter Pence, this was a night the Phillies looked every bit the World Series contender they were dubbed before the season.

It will soon be known what they become with the All-Star right fielder, acquired during the Phils’ 10-3 victory against the Pirates on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.

“To be on a team that is trying to give you the best chance to win that they can, it’s a lot of fun,” pitcher Roy Halladay said. “Even if they didn’t, [general manager] Ruben [Amaro Jr.] is going to do everything he can to try to make us better. That in itself means a lot. But I can’t wait.”

It’s been known Amaro was seeking the biggest piece of pie left on the table. And it’s been known the Phils were the front-runners to land Pence, who was removed from the Astros’ game and was hugging teammates and saying his goodbyes in the dugout in Milwaukee. Amaro expects Pence to be in the lineup Saturday night.

It would be nearly impossible for such oft-spoken verbiage about the need for a right-handed bat like Pence not to filter into Philadelphia’s clubhouse. It would be equally near impossible to believe that wouldn’t light a fire in any competitor’s belly.

The Phillies’ offense turned this game into a rout by the second inning. Eighteen batters came to the plate and cranked out eight runs on eight hits against starter Charlie Morton. Every batter reached base except Halladay.

“The first two innings, he couldn’t get the ball down with consistency,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Different guys are wired differently. Some pitchers go out with the mentality that they’re going to go out and make it happen. For Charlie, when he lets it happen, he’s better served. I think tonight he tried to make it happen the first two innings.”

The Phils have not lost three in a row at home this season. Halladay pitching only made it more assuring that would hold. He tossed seven scoreless innings and allowed only one hit with five strikeouts.

Acquiring Pence will do little for the Phillies down the stretch and in October if the proven commodities, the players already taking up the chunk of the $175 million payroll, do not meet expectations.

Chase Utley is certainly included in that cluster, and Friday he delivered, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs. He fell a double shy of the cycle. Jimmy Rollins homered in the seventh to make it 10-0.

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