Wank's World: Phillies 5, Braves 4: I Totally Knew That J.C. Romero, Michael Stutes, Antonio Bastardo, Vance Worley, and Ryan Madson Were Going to Lock It Down Last Night. Yup. Never a Doubt.

And…breathe. Okay, so after a season of relatively stress-free baseball games, the Phillies seem to be hitting a stretch here that’s caused some serious late-inning angst. And I like it. For the most part, Phillies games this year have been exhibitions in one of the following: futile hitting that’s resulted in non-competitive losses, exhibitions of futile hitting that are masked by dominant pitching performances, or blowout wins powered by the occasional offensive explosion. There really haven’t been any defining wins–you know, the ones that reveal something about the team’s “It” factor–that non-measurable quality of grit, poise, and confidence.

Well, until now, anyway. This was the second straight night that the Phillies appeared they were going to let slip away a winnable game against a division oppenent. This was also two straight nights that the Phillies won these games. And, really, they’ve probably been the best two wins this season (excluding Opening Day).

What went down: The Phils’ offense jumped all over Atlanta starter Brandon Beachy, getting to him for five hits in the first, highlighted by Ryan Howard’s three-run bomb to dead centerfield. With Cole Hamels on the mound, it seemed the Phillies were in good shape. Of course, things aren’t always what they seem. Beachy was removed during warmups in the third after straining an oblique, forcing the Braves to turn to long-reliever Cristhian (I spelled that correctly) Martinez. Instead of beating the Braves’ obscure long-man into submission, Martinez responded by dominating over four perfect innings. Of course he did. Why wouldn’t he?

Cole Hamels, meanwhile, couldn’t make an early 3-0 lead stand up, and he departed after six innings with his team trailing 4-3–more on him later. Somehow, the Phillies used an orgy of relievers that were pressed into unsual roles, and got a clutch, game-winning hit from Raul Ibanez to escape with a win in the first game of this fairly-important series.

What I liked: Early offense. One thing that the Phillies have struggled with is putting up crooked numbers early in games, so it was refreshing to see Ryan Howard jump on a fat fastball in the first inning to give a Phillies starter an early cushion. That just hasn’t happened this year. It’s almost as if Cole Hamels actually seemed genuinely rattled by the fact that his teammates produced a first inning that lasted longer than four minutes, as he subsequently struggled in the bottom of the frame.

Relief pitching. Hamels wasn’t particularly good last night, so in order for the Phillies to win the game, it was going to take a strong performance from the bullpen to do it. And that’s exactly what they got. J.C. Romero (although he wasn’t effective and put the Phillies in an awful spot in the seventh), Michael Stutes, Antonio Bastardo, Vance Worley, and Ryan Madson combined to hold the Braves scoreless over the final three innings. I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight what maturity the relatively inexperienced Stutes and Bastardo showed by coming in and striking out Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman, respectively, in a tight bases loaded situation. Stutes had never entered a game at the Major League level in a situation like that, so for him to respond the way he did is an encouraging sign for this team. As for Bastardo, I was clutching my remote control with a death grip when he fell behind Freeman in a 3-0 count. Somehow, Bastardo found his control just in time and came all the way back to strike out Freeman. Unbelievable. And, oh yeah, Vance Worley- you’re really good, too.

Lefty on lefty crime. We’ve seen enough of Braves reliever Eric O’ Flaherty over the past couple of seasons to know that he’s very effective against left-handed hitters. So you could imagine my shock when Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez both singled off the guy with a name that sounds like he belongs on a Lucky Charms box to squeak out the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. Lefties were 2 for 2 in that inning, while righties were 0 for 3. Go figure.

Who or what I didn't like: Cole Hamels. Hamels has been terrific thus far in 2011, but come on, man. Staked with a 3-0 first inning lead, elite pitchers slam the door on the opponents face. Those three runs should hold up. They didn’t. He came out in the first and allowed a leadoff single to Martin Prado, made an error on a bunt, and allowed another single to Chipper Jones. The Braves had chopped (Haha, get it!?! ‘Cuz of the Tomahawk Chop!) the Phillies’ lead by one before Hamels even recorded an out. He settled in over the next three innings before allowing hits to the Braves’ bottom third of the lineup, which included a two-run double by that Martinez guy. A two-run double to a long reliever? Are you bleeping kidding me? That cannot happen. Hamels allowed Atlanta to take the lead in the sixth after uncorking a wild pitch that scored Alex Gonzalez.

Two things real quick: Dude, find a way to get out Alex Gonzalez. And he’s not even good. And two, how about instead of making faces and cursing and throwing your glove and looking all disgusted, you just go ahead and like, you know, get the guy out instead? Thanks in advance.

Can somebody please explain to me: How in God’s name umpire David Rackley didn’t ring up Shane Victorino in the seventh inning? Good grief. Whatever, though, I’ll take it.

Now what: Joe Blanton makes his second start off the DL, facing off against Jair Jurrjens. The Phillies cannot hit Jurrjens. What’s more, Joe Blanton isn't good (and I’m also pretty sure he’s still hurt, so that’s neat). If they win this one, something weird is going to have to happen.