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Saturday April 13, 2013

Chase Utley has seen a great start to the 2013 Season – after being hurt for most of the 2012 year. He clubbed the Game Winning RBI in yesterday’s 3 – 1 decision over the Phillies. The Second Baseman is in the last year of his contract and would stand to benefit from a season put up like his 1st 10 games. His 2013 – 3 Slash Line is .316/372/1.004 so far – with 2 Home Runs, 2 Doubles, 2 Triples and 10 RBI.  If the club could see Ryan Howard join Utley’s production, we are talking about a vaunted Philadelphia lineup sure to impose its will on its opposition again!

By Chris Creighton (Phillies Correspondent via http://www.warrroomphilly.com – visit the website here)  Follow @WARROOMPHLCHRIS

No one has ever questioned Chase Utley‘s hands. The knees, maybe, but never the hands and he most certainly put them to good use at the most crucial time in last night’s Extra – Inning affair in Miami. Turns out, the knees are just fine, too!

Batting with one out and the score tied 1-1, the Phillies’ resident speedster, Ben Revere, smoked a 10th Inning single to right field off of the Marlins 6’11” giant, Jon Rauch. After a pop-out by Jimmy Rollins, it was Utley’s turn to slay Goliath with Revere still on first.

With the count full and Revere running on the pitch, Utley drilled a chin-high pitch over the First Baseman’s head for a laser down the line.

Revere could have moonwalked home from third as the ball rolled deep into the corner of cavernous Marlins Park. Utley hustled the hit into a sliding triple and after Ryan Howard was Intentionally Walked, Chase scored on a Michael Young single up the middle. 

Chase Utley Speaks About playing a full season in 2013:

Chase Utley is one of most productive 2B in baseball when healthy.  The Phillies on 5 straight Division Titles from 2007 – 2011 under his leadership.

This was only made possible by Marlins Second baseman, Donovan Solano, who could not find the bag to force Howard after a slick fielding play and toss by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria on the hit by Young.

Jonathan Papelbon  retired the Marlins in order in the bottom of the inning by spraying lazy cans of corn to Left, Center and Right Field for the final three outs of the game, sealing the 3-1 victory for the good guys. For Papelbon, it was his second Save of 2013 with Phillippe Aumont picking up his first career win after pitching an efficient eighth.

The game was a chess match seen by tens of fans in Miami and was definitely a great night to test the echo factor of the spacious ballpark that resembles a gigantic green screen. Official paid attendance was recorded as 17, 923, but looked and sounded more like 923, which was comprised mostly of our traveling and transplanted Phaithful.

Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco did his usual thing against the Phillies lineup and lullabied an already no-bass-and-all-treble crowd to an even lower decibel for six solid innings. However, not to be outdone was our own John Lannan who also pitched six, walked just one and muted the Marlins to just three hits. It was his second strong outing in as many starts in this young 2013 season.

But the night would eventually belong to Chase Utley and his lightning-quick hands. Not too many players would have the ability to turn on the same pitch that Utley sent to the corner, let alone make contact or even keep it in fair territory.

When healthy and with a full Spring of baseball under his belt, Utley has made it a habit of coming out of the gates with guns blazing in the month of April and 2013 has been no different. After two straight seasons starting on the shelf, Chase is out to prove that he can still play at a high level this year and has already made his point quite potently as seen below:

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Generated 4/13/2013.

Once again, Chase has that look, he exudes tremendous energy and is coming through in the clutch situations in 2013. Last night evoked memories of Aprils past and since the turnstiles at Marlins park were rendered rusty, you could almost hear Harry the K saying, “Chase Utley, you ARE the man!”.

Utley best year came in 2007 when hit 22 HRs had 102 RBI. He had a three slash line of .332/.410/.976.  The Phillies would be happy if he could just stay in the lineup for the majority of the season  The fans have to be ecstatic at the start of his year.  This club has a chance to compete in the NL East Division if all of its players can play to the back of their bubblegum card statistics.  If Dom Brown and John Mayberry Jr. can take the next step – saving the club some financial flexibility… Plus now that Cliff Lee looks like his former Cy Young like self and Cole Hamels will certainly turn around – the Wild Card (which might end up deciding their playoff fate) is Roy Halladay.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

A big thank – you goes out to our Philadelphia Phillies Correspondent Chris Creighton for preparing today’s featured post..  Chris is a Phillies Phan, Baseball fan & player. He thinks that there is no better place for food and is a  proponent of the city of Philadelphia. Huge U2 fan. Phillies writer at  http://www.warroomphilly.com .

Chris says:  “Follow a Web Show covering everything in the Philadelphia Sports Scene. Sit back and enjoy from the hearts of two die-hard Philly guys here !  You can follow Chris Creighton on Twitter Follow @WARROOMPHLCHRIS or the WarRoomPhilly Follow @WARROOMPHILLY

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