Jose Contreras ends a Brewers’ bases loaded threat in the bottom of the ninth by striking out two straight batters, collecting his first career save, as he preserves Joe Blanton’s first win of the year, as the Phils defeat the Brewers, 10-6. The Phils’ lead in the East is now at three games as the Nats lose a doubleheader to the Rockies.

The Phils took the lead in the second as, with two men on, and with one man out, Shane Victorino hits an RBI single, knocking in Paul Hoover, who had earlier singled, and moved up to second on Phils’ starter Joe Blanton’s sacrifice bunt, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, while sending Blanton, who was safe at first on the sac bunt, up to second base. Two batters later, with two men on base, and now with two men out, Chase Utley hits a ground-rule double, knocking in Blanton, making it 2-0 Phils, while sending Victorino to third. The Brewers cut the Phils’ lead in the fifth as Prince Fielder hits a lead-off home run, his sixth home run of the season, making it a 2-1 Phils’ lead. The Phils’ increased their lead in the sixth as, with one man on, and with one out, Victorino hits a two-run home run, his eighth home run of the year, knocking in Hoover, who had earlier singled, to give the Phils a 4-1 lead. The Brewers got a run back in their half of the fifth as Alcides Escobar hits a pinch hit home run, his second home run of the year, making it a 4-2 Phils’ lead. The Phils then busted the game wide open in the seventh. With two men on, and with one man out, Hoover hits a two-run double, knocking in both Jayson Werth, who had earlier singled, moved up to second on Wilson Valdez’s single, and then moved up to third on Claudio Vargas’ wild pitch, and Valdez, who had just singled, and then went to second on Vargas’ wild pitch, making it a 6-2 Phils’ lead. Two batters later, Victorino would make it a 7-2 Phils’ lead, as he hit an RBI double, knocking in Hoover, who had gone to third on Blanton’s single, while sending Blanton on to third. Placido Polanco follows with an RBI single, scoring Blanton and giving the Phils an 8-2 lead, while sending Victorino on to third base. Utley next hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Victorino, to give the Phils a 9-2 lead. The Brewers struck back in their half of the seventh as, with two men on, and with two men out, Corey Hart hit a two-run home run, his fourth home run of the year, knocking in both Fielder, who had earlier doubled, and Gregg Zaun, who had just walked, making it a 9-5 Phils’ lead. The Phils got a run back in the eighth as, with runners on the corners, and with no one out, Hoover hit into a 6-4-3 double play, wiping out at second base Valdez, who had just singled, while scoring Raul Ibanez, who had earlier walked, and had gone to third on Hoover’s single, giving the Phils’ a 10-5 lead. The Brewers made it 10-6 in the ninth as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Hart hits an RBI double, knocking in Jody Gerut, who had earlier doubled, and had gone to third on Zaun’s single, while sending Zaun, who had earlier singled, on to third. After pinch hitter George Kottaras walked to load up the bases, Jose Contreras ended the game by getting Rickie Weeks to strike out swinging, and Craig Counsell to strike out looking, to record his first save of the year.

Joe Blanton gets the win as he pitches seven innings, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out five. His record is now 1-2 with a 5.49 ERA. Chad Durbin pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while he strikes out one. David Herndon pitches a third of an inning, giving up a run on three hits. Jose Contreras records his first career save, as he pitches two-thirds of an inning, giving up a walk, while striking out two. Chris Narveson takes the lost as he pitches five and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out nine. His record is now 3-1 with a 5.29 ERA. Mitch Stetter pitches a third of an inning, striking out the only batter he would face. Claudio Vargas pitches a third of an inning, giving up five runs on six hits. Jeff Suppan pitches two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit. John Axford pitches an inning, giving up a run on one hit and a walk, while striking out a batter. Carlos Villanueva pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while he strikes out one.

The Phils had seventeen hits in the game, the most hits in a game so far this season. Placido Polanco led the team with four hits, all singles, knocking in a run. Shane Victorino and Paul Hoover follows with three hits each, with Victorino’s hits being a single, a double and a two-run home run, knocking in four runs, while Hoover’s hits were two singles and a double, as he knocks in two runs, while a third run scores on his doubleplay grounder. Chase Utley and Wilson Valdez then follow with two hits apiece, with Utley’s hits being a ground-rule double and a regular double, knocking in two runs, while Valdez’s hits were both singles. Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Phils’ starter Joe Blanton had the other three Phils’ hits, all singles.

The Phils (22-13, 1st East) will conclude their road trip with a night game against the Brewers (15-21, 4th Central). The game will be played at Miller Park and will start at 8:05 pm Eastern, that will be nationally televised by ESPN. The Phils will send to the mound Cole Hamels (3-2, 4.53), who is coming off a win against the Braves on May 9, as he pitched five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and four walks, while striking out five, in the Phils’ 5-3 win. He will be trying to lead the Phils to a series sweep while trying for his second strong start in three tries. The Brewers will counter with Doug Davis (1-4, 7.56), who is coming off a lost against the Braves on May 10, as he pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on three hits and six walks, while striking out four, in the Brewers’ 8-2 lost. He will be trying to keep the Brewers from being swept. The Phils will be trying to end the trip on a high note, with a series sweep.