Saturday, July 28, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils just keep rolling on all cylinders even with Chase Utley on the bench. After tossing a complete game shutout in his last start, J.D Durbin was roughed up a little tonight, but he was good enough. He kept the Phils in it early, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 4, in 5 innings of work. After the top of the 5th, the Phils only trailed 5-2, but it still appeared Durbin probably wouldn't get the win. 8 Phils runs in the bottom of the 5th later, and the win was his. The 8 run inning is the Phils best of the season and it was truly an inning for the history books. Shane Victorino leadoff the inning with a double. Jimmy Rollins followed that up with a perfect bunt single which just seemed to hang inside the line forever as the Pirates attempted to let it go foul. Ryan Howard then walked to load the bases and Pat Burrell made it back to back walks to force in a run. Wes Helms then reached base on an error which allowed another run to score. New second baseman, Tadahito Iguchi then hit a sac fly to score a 3rd run. Next Chris Coste crushed a 3 run homer to put the Phils ahead 8-5 and seemingly stop the Phils momentum. However, after a Rod Barajas strikeout, Micheal Bourn singled up the middle, Shane Victorino walked, and Jimmy Rollins tripled to score both. Ryan Howard then worked another walk, giving Pat Burrell a chance to push across yet even more runs but he struck out to finally end the inning. In all, the Phils had scored 8 runs on a walk, error, sac fly, homer, and triple. Pretty unique wouldn't you say? Anyway the 10 -5 lead the Phils now had would be all the Phils bullpen would need, as Jose Mesa, Tom Gordon(no he's still not quite ready to be the closer again), Ryan Madson, and Brett Myers(yes he's back, just not full-time yet) combined for 4 shutout innings to put Pittsburgh away by a final score of surprise! 10-5. So the Phils improve to 54-49, and remain in second place, but are now just 3.5 games behind the first place Mets who lost the 2nd game of their split doubleheader with the Nationals today. Life thus, remains beautiful.
Friday, July 27, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Tonight the Phils were without both Chase Utley ,who broke his hand yesterday, and Aaron Rowand who apparently tweaked his shoulder while playing with his kids this morning (don't worry he'll reportedly be back tomorrow). Considering that Utley and Rowand are the Phils top 2 hitters the odds were stacked against them to open their weekend series with the Pirates with a victory. Apparently the oddsmakers didn't factor in Micheal Bourn. Starting in centerfield for the injured Rowand, and batting leadoff, Bourn went on a tear, going 4 for 4 and while stealing a base and scoring 2 runs. Although, he didn't knock in any runs his continued presence on the base paths was a big reason that Pat Burrell racked up a double and a homer, and 3 RBIs, and Greg Dobbs racked up a 2 RBI single in the 1st inning, among others. In all the Phils pounded out 8 runs on 11 hits. Meanwhile, the trusty left arm of Jamie Moyer guided the Phils through 7 innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits, while striking out 4. Nature then intervened, sending the game into a rain delay, just as the 8th inning got under the way. As it turned out, the rain delay never ceased and the game was called, but since it went more than 5 innings, it goes into the books as a win for the Phils, and a complete game for Moyer, who was still in there ready to pitch the 8th as the rains came. So the Chaseless Phils improve to 53-49, and with the Braves and Mets losing tonight the Phils move into 2nd place, just 4 games behind the Mets for first. Also on a side note the Phils have acquired a 2nd baseman to fill in for Utley. They got Tadahito iguchi from the White Sox, for pitching prospect Micheal Dubee(yes, the son of Phils pitching coach Rich Dubee). Iguchi was a key member of the 2005 world champion White Sox and having jacked 18 homers last season he's still good enough to help the Phils. Thus, life is beautiful again.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles opened their training camp today with rookies and selected veterans reporting. The first practice will be held tomorrow and the full team will report on Monday. All I can say is E,A,G,L,E,S Eagles!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
Despite another stellar performance by Adam Eaton, the Phils lost a tough one today in the final game of their series with the Nationals. Eaton went 6 and 1/3rd innings, allowing just 2 runs on 8 hits(well actually, 4 runs, but two were scored after he left the game by runners he allowed on base). Meanwhile, the Phils built up an early lead on an RBI single by Chase Utley in the 1st inning, a 2 run homer by Ryan Howard in the 3rd inning, and a bases loaded single by Pat Burrell in the 5th inning. In all, they roughed up rookie starter John Lannan, for 5 runs on 6 hits, taking a 5-2 lead into the 7th inning. Unfortunately, the Nationals scored twice in that inning to cut the lead to 5-4. Then in the 8th, rookie reliever Mike Zagurski made a two out mistake, serving up a 3 run homer to the Nationals backup catcher ,Jesus Flores, and well, that was difference as it put the Nationals ahead 7-5. The Phils rallied in the 9th, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out, but Chris Coste and Abraham Nunez both grounded out weakly and Phils got only one run out of it, falling 7-6. After the game the Phils got more bad news, as Chase Utley who was hit by a pitch in the 5th inning, revealed that he had broken his hand. He was placed on the 15 day DL and is out indefinitely, although he insists he'll be back this season. So the Phils drop to 52-49 and are now without their leader, which almost spells certain doom for their playoff hopes. However, the Mets and the Braves both lost today as well, so far now the Phils remain okay at 5 games back in 3rd place, but who knows how long that will last. Thus, life sucks once again.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
On Cole Hamels bobble head day, Hamels was nearly the star of the show. Well, at least for 7 innings he was, as he allowed just 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 6. The Phils meanwhile, loaded the bases in the 3rd inning and scored 3 runs on a Pat Burrell Walk, and a single by Wes Helms. Aaron Rowand then hit yet another RBI double in the 5th inning and Hamels thus, exited the game with a 4-2 lead. That lead stood until the top of 9th inning, where after getting a quick out, Antonio Alfonseca destructed, allowing 1 run and 2 hits, before Charlie Manuel yanked him from the game. Mike Zagurski replaced Alfonseca and gave up 2 more runs before getting the 2nd out of the inning. Finally Jose Mesa came in to replace Zagurski and ended the inning, but now Washington was ahead 5-4 and all seemed lost. In the bottom of the inning Carlos Ruiz and Greg Dobbs were retired easily, leaving it all up to Jimmy Rollins to keep the game alive. He did that and then some, lining a ball deep into the leftfield gap, where lefttfielder Ryan Church had it, then lost it when centerfielder Ryan Langerhans ran into his glove and knocked it lose, allowing Rollins to race into 3rd standing up. Church's throw was then muffed by SS Felipe Lopez, allowing Rollins to score and tie the game at 5, as catcher Brian Schneider failed to handle Lopez's relay through. After another 4 and 1/2 innings of dueling bullpens, and the Phils failing to capitalize on golden opportunities, Ryan Howard finally ended the marathon. In the bottom of the 14th inning with Chase Utley on first and nobody out, Howard crushed a homer off the second deck in rightfield for a 7-5 Phils victory. So the Phils improve to 52-48 with their 5th win in a row, but the Mets won today as well, so the Phils remain 5 games back. Life remains beautiful though.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles and top draft pick Kevin Kolb agreed to a 4 year 4.32 million deal. With Kolb signed the Eagles now have all of their draft picks under contract as they head into training camp on Friday. In other words, other than getting through training camp and the preseason there's really nothing left for the Eagles to do this off-season.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
For the second time in a row rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick failed get through the 5th inning, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits in 5 and 2/3rds innings of work. This time however, with his opponent Jason Bergman failing to get out of the 3rd inning, it was more than enough for victory. Aaron Rowand doubled and scored in the 2nd inning and Jimmy Rollins hit a solo homer in the 3rd inning to put the Phils up early, 2-0. A 3 run 4th inning helped put the Nationals ahead 3-2. Aaron Rowand doubled and scored again in the 6th inning t0 tie it at 3. Then, in the 8th with two out, Rowand came up big again. slamming a solo homer to put the Phils up 4-3. Antonio Alfonseca came in and closed it out in the 9th and just like that the Phils had won their 4th in a row 4-3. With the win the Phils improved to 51-48, but they remain 5 games back in 3rd place, as the Mets won today as well. The Braves-Giants game has not yet been decided as of now, but even if Atlanta were to lose the Phils would still be .5 games behind them for 2nd place in the NL East. Still, life remains beautiful either way.
Monday, July 23, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils got the day off today so that they could fly home for San Diego, and begin a 7 game homestand tomorrow. Brett Myers recently made a successful rehab start, and could be back with the Phils by Thursday.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils came into today looking to win their 3rd in a row and take a series from the Padres. With Jake Peavy, the league ERA. leader, on the mound for the Padres, winning figured to be a stern test. Apparently, no one told the Phils or young starter J.D Durbin that they weren't supposed to win. Durbin, was lights out all day, tossing a complete game shutout of Padres, on just 5 hits. Peavy on the other hand wasn't so lucky. He lasted just 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits. Jimmy Rollins, alone, homered in the 3rd inning and tripled and scored in the 5th inning to account for 2 of those 4 runs. Still, when Peavy left the game it was only 4-0 Phils, so the Pads still had a chance to steal victory. The red hot Phillies offense made sure that chance didn't last very long. Just like last night in the 9th inning, they put together a long rally in the 8th inning to put it away for good. Micheal Bourn tripled to leadoff the inning and scored on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Jimmy Rollins walked, J.D Durbin doubled, Shane Victorino doubled to score both, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard both walked to load the bases, and finally Aaron Rowand singled with the bases loaded to score two more runs. Just like that the Phils were up 9-0 and the stage was set for Durbin to complete the shutout, which he did of course in the top of the 9th. So the Phils improve to 50-48, but remain in 3rd place, 5 games behind the 1st place Mets who also won today. Still, life remains beautiful.
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