July 2009 Philadelphia Phillies season

shane victorino named first all-star team winner of final vote.

struggles continued phillies open july, braves completed three-game series sweep in first 2 days of month; however, face-off mets on independence day weekend revitalized team s fortunes. phillies swept northern rivals mets managed 3 runs in 3 games. during series, team s 2009 all-stars announced: utley , ibáñez elected starters, , howard named reserve, 1 of 4 first basemen selected national league squad. announced victorino 1 of 5 final vote candidates. though phillies had played better on road point in season, home-field advantage paid off next night, offense chased reds starter johnny cueto after  ⁄3 of inning scoring 9 runs; team went on score 10 in first inning , 22 in entire game. every phillies starter had @ least 1 hit, werth hit eighth-inning grand slam off of reds infielder paul janish, , rollins , victorino, @ top of order, combined go 7-for-9 3 doubles, home run, 9 runs scored, , 5 rbis between them. though closer lidge suffered tough loss on july 7, sacrificing run in ninth inning earn fourth of season, phillies bounced dramatic ninth-inning win following night. victorino hit walk-off single drive in pedro feliz , solidify victory in all-star final vote, announced next day. werth named replace new york mets carlos beltrán on all-star roster due injury; victorino replaced beltrán starter in center field.

after all-star break—during american league defeated national league, 4–3—moyer, ryan madson, , j. c. romero combined one-hit, complete-game shutout of marlins in first game back, extending phillies winning streak 6 games, , record 10–3 in month of july. streak extended 8 straight games phillies swept florida in 3 games of series (one game postponed due weather). happ raised record 7–0 on season seven-inning shutout performance. streak continued phillies opened series @ home against chicago cubs; chad durbin earned first save in 11 months pitching 3 scoreless innings of relief. werth s three-run home run in 13th inning next night gave phillies walk-off win tenth consecutive, chicago ended season-high streak 10–5 defeat on july 22. phillies won 3 of next four, , bolstered rotation trading cliff lee. 2008 american league cy young award winner came cleveland indians along outfielder ben francisco on july 29; phillies gave 4 minor leaguers—catcher lou marson, infielders jason donald , pitchers carlos carrasco , jason knapp. lee , francisco joined phillies in san francisco after phillies series victory on arizona diamondbacks, , both started final game in july. lee pitched complete-game four-hitter on july 31, allowing 1 run on 9 innings of work. phillies finished july 20–7 record, first 20-win month since may 2001.