The Phils’ stratch and claw their way to their second straight spring training win on the road, as they defeat the Pirates, 7-4.

The Phils took a quick 1-0 lead in the first, as, with runners on first and second, via two straight singles by Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco, with Rollins stopping at second base, and with no one out, Raul Ibanez hits an RBI single, scoring Rollins, while sending Polanco up to second base. One batter later, the Phils took a 2-0 lead as, with still nobody out, Ryan Howard hits an RBI single, scoring Polanco, while sending Ibanez on to third. The Pirates cut the Phils’ lead in their half of the first as, with runners on the corners, via a double by Pedro Ciriaco, and a single by Neil Walker, with Ciriaco stopping at third, and with one man out, Lyle Overbay hits an RBI single to right, knocking in Ciriaco. But, on the play, Walker is thrown out at third by Wilson Valdez on a strong throw, 9-5, for the inning’s second out. The Pirates then tied the game up at two-all in the fourth as, with a runner on second, and with two men out, Andy Marte hits an RBI single, scoring Matt Diaz, who had earlier reached first on a walk, and then stole second base. The Phils regain the lead in the sixth as Howard hits a lead-off home run, his first of the spring, giving the Phils a 3-2 lead. The Pirates then tied it up at three-all in their half of the sixth as, with runners on second and third, and with one man out, Garrett Jones hits into an RBI ground out, three-unassisted, scoring Neil Walker, who had earlier walked, then went to third on Tony Sanchez’s ground-rule double, while moving Sanchez, who had just doubled, over to third base. One batter later, the Bucos took the lead as Marte hits an RBI ground-rule double of his own, knocking in Sanchez, giving the Pirates a 4-3 lead. The Phils came back to tie it at four-all in the seventh as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Matt Rizzotti hits an RBI double, knocking in Freddy Galvis, who had earlier singled and had gone on to third on Brandon Moss’ single, while Moss, who had just singled, would stop at third base. The Phils then retook the lead as Pete Orr hits into an RBI ground out, 4-3, scoring Moss, making it a 5-4 Phils’ lead, while sending Rizzotti on to third base. The Phils then made it 6-4 as, with a man on third, and with two men out, Dane Sardinha hits an RBI single, scoring Rizotti. The Pirates tried to come back in their half of the seventh as they loaded the bases, via singles to Alex Presley and John Bowker, with Presley stopping at second base, and a walk to Corey Wimberly, moving both Presley and Bowker up a base, with only one man out. But Drew Carpenter pitched himself out of trouble by first striking out Josh Fields, swinging, for the second out, and then striking out Sanchez, looking. The Phils then made it 7-4 in the eighth as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Glavis hits a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Valdez, who had earlier doubled, then went to third on Michael Martinez’s ground out, 4-3. That would be the final score as Antonio Bastardo would pitch an easy 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Joe Blanton received a no-decision as he pitched three and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out two. Danys Baez received a blown save as he pitched an inning and a third, giving up a hit. Dan Meyer also received a blown save, before getting the win (1-0, 9.00), as he pitched an inning, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk, while striking out 2. Drew Carpenter received his first hold of the spring as he pitches a scoreless inning, giving up two hits and a walk, while striking out two batters. Mike Zagurski records his second spring hold as he pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while striking out one. Antonio Bastardo records his first save of the spring as he pitches a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two. Kevin Correia also received a no-decision as he went three innings, giving up two runs on five hits, while he struck out five. Brian Burres followed with two scoreless innings, giving up a hit, while striking out a batter. Fernando Nieve took the lost (0-1, 27.00) as he pitched an inning and a third, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out three. Michael Dubee pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit, while striking out one. Bryan Morris pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit. Daniel Moskos pitched a 1-2-3 inning,  striking out a batter.

The Phils had fourteen hits in the game, with Wilson Valdez leading the team with three hits, two singles and a doubles, as he raised his spring average to .417. He was followed by Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, who both had two hits, with Rollins’ hits being a single and a double, and Howard’s being a single and a solo home run, his first of the spring. Freddy Galvis, Placido Polanco, Carlos Rivero, Raul Ibanez, Brandon Moss, Matt Rizzotti and Dane Sardinha had the other seven Phils’ hits, all singles, except for Rizzotti’s double. Rollins and Howard’s two hits help raised their spring batting averages.

The Phils’s Grapefruit League record is now 4-3.