PHILLIES NEWS

"Old reliable" Jamie Moyer came through yet again today for the Phils. He went 7 innings allowing just 2 runs, on 4 hits, while striking out 4. More importantly, he kept Detroit in the ballpark forcing the Tigers into nearly 20 groundouts, while allowing just 2 homers, both solo, and early in the game. Carlos Guillen hit a solo shot in the 2nd inning, and Curtis Granderson hit a solo shot in the 3rd. After that it was all Moyer who retired the next 11 batters he faced. Meanwhile, for the Phils Shane Victorino hit a solo homer in the 1st inning, and Aaron Rowand hit a solo homer in the 3rd. Rowand then singled in Victorino in the 5th for a 3-2 lead. Chase Utley upped the lead to 4-2 with an RBI Double in the 6th. Carlos Ruiz hit another in 7th for a 5-2 lead, and Ryan Howard finished the double parade with an RBI double in the 8th for a 6-2 lead. The Phils bullpen then closed it out. Ryan Madson pitched a perfect 8th inning, and Antonio Alfonseca survived the 9th after allowing 1 run on 3 hits, to clinch a 6-3 Phils win. So the Phils are now 36-32, .5 games behind Atlanta for 2nd in the NL East, and 2 games behind the Mets for first. Thus, life is beautiful again.