Saturday, August 18, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils were looking to continue their 2nd half playoff push today, as they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, with 4 runs in the 1st inning on an RBI single by Ryan Howard, and a 3 run homer by Jayson Werth. Unfortunately, Jamie Moyer just didn't have it today, as he allowed Pittsburgh to come right back with 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st. Pat Burrell slugged a 2 run homer in the 2nd inning to put the Phils back ahead 6-4, but again Moyer couldn't hold the lead. In all Moyer allowed 8 runs on 9 hits while striking out 4. Those 8 runs would be all the Pirates would need as the Phils never scored again after the 2nd inning. The Pirates eventually tacked on 3 late runs to win easily 11-6. So the Phils lost to drop to 65-57 and 4 games back in the NL East as the Mets won today. However, the Padres lost today as well, so the Phils remain tied for the lead in the wildcard. Still, life sucks again anyway.
Friday, August 17, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued their road trip by beginning a 3 game series in Pittsburgh with the Pirates tonight. From the beginning it was a slugfest, with the Phils blitzing the Pirates pitchers for 11 runs on 16 hits, punctuated by an Aaron Rowand 3 run homer in the 5th, followed by a Pat Burrell two run homer in the 6th inning. Jimmy Rollins also had a big night with 3 hits, 3 runs scored, and an RBI. Likewise for Tad Iguchi with 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBIs, and Chris Coste with 1 run scored, 3 hits, and 2 RBIs. Meanwhile J.D Durbin, pitching in place of injured Adam Eaton(that's right another injured pitcher), gave the Phils 6 solid innings while allowing just 3 runs on 4 hits and striking out 3. Unfortunately, at that point with the Phils comfortably ahead 9 -3, little used relievers Clay Condrey, Jose Mesa, and Mike Zagurski(yes he's back to fill Eaton's roster spot), came in to close it out, and well, they didn't. In all Pittsburgh racked up 5 runs on 6 hits off the Phils bullpen, but a further 2 runs for the Phils in the top of 9th, were just enough to allow them to hang on for an 11-8 victory. So the Phils improved to 65-56, but with the Mets winning tonight as well, the Phils remain 3 games back in the NL East. However, the Padres lost tonight, so the Phils move into a tie with San Diego for the wild card. Thus life remains beautiful.
EAGLES NEWS
Preseason game number 2 took the place for the Birds tonight, and with Donovan Mcnabb back under center, if for only one quarter, the Eagles romped to a 27-10 victory. As usual though, that doesn't really matter, so let's talk about what does. For the offense, Mcnabb looked great, completing 6 of 9 passes for 138 yards. Backups A.J Feeley and Kevin Kolb looked good too, as each completed over 50% of their passes for a combined 151 yards. Finally rookie running back Tony Hunt had big night with 2 touchdowns on bruising short yardage goal line runs, just want the Eagles are looking to get out of him. The Eagles defense looked just as good, particularly the secondary where Sheldon Brown returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown, and rookie Rashad Barksdale halled in an interception of his own. The line was also far better tonight than they had been against Baltimore, with Trent Cole recording a couple sacks, Victor Abiamiri recording a sack and 2 tackles, and another solid night of rushing the quartterback for Broderick Bunkley. So all in all it was a pretty good night for the Eagles.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils came into tonight needing a win to take their series from the Nats. As usual it was a close game that came down to the very end. This time with their ace, Cole Hamels on the mound, the Phils prevailed. Carlos Ruiz slammed a 2 run homer in the 2nd inning, for an early 2-0 Phils lead. Meanwhile, Hamels shutout the Nats for the first 6 and 2/3rd innings, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 6. After allowing a leadoff double to Austin Kearns, and a 2 out bunt single to Nook Logan, in the 7th inning, Hamels needed Antonio Alfonseca to come in and strike out Felipe Lopez to end the inning and keep Washington off the board through 7. By the time the Nats finally scored a couple runs off Tom "Flash" Gordon in the bottom of the 8th, it was too late, as the Phils had already scored two more to go ahead 4-0, as Jimmy Rollins walked and scored on a fielder's choice in the 7th, and Jayson Werth doubled and scored on a double by Greg Dobbs in the 8th. Thus, the Nats still trailed by 2, and Brett Myers made sure they didn't get those 2 runs in 9th, retiring Nook Logan, Robert Fick, and Felipe Lopez in order. So the Phils won 4-2, and improved to 64-56, just 3 games behind the Mets in the NL East, and still 1 behind the Padres in the wildcard. Life is thus beautiful again.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
After tasting the thrill of victory last night, the Phils tasted the agony of defeat tonight. Rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick provided the Phils with another stellar performance, going 5 and 2/3rd innings while allowing just 4 runs on 7 hits. Unfortunately, the Nationals Wade Redding was just a little bit better going 6 innings ,while allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits including a solo homer by Jayson Werth. The Phils only other run came in the 7th inning on a single by Chris Coste. The Phils actually could have had much more than one run though, as they had loaded the bases with nobody out. Coste's single just moved every runner up a base, so the bases remained loaded with no one out. Last night's hero ,Russell Branyan, then came into pinch hit and struck out. Next up was Jimmy Rollins and he too struck out. Finally Tad Iguchi came up as the Phils last chance to keep the inning going. Unfortunately, all he could do was slap a weak ground ball back up the middle, which was gobbled up SS Felipe Lopez for the final out of the inning. The Bullpens then dominated the rest of the way, and the Phils wound up losing 4-2. The Mets won today dropping the Phils to 4 games back in the NL East, but the Padres lost, so the Phils remain only 1 game back in the wildcard. Still, life sucks again.
EAGLES NEWS
This is just a little injury update. First of all, Jerome Mcdougle's strained biceps turned out to be torn biceps upon further review, meaning that Mcdougle is likely out for the season now. Also Shawn Andrews ankle injury(if you noticed, he didn't play in monday's preseason game either) was evaluated and he remains day to day at this point, but he and the Eagles refuse to say whether he'll be ready to start the season, and that doesn't bode so well for him. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with him.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
As mentioned, the Phils began a 3 game series with the Nationals tonight. Shawn Hill took the mound for the Nats, while the Phils countered with Kyle Lohse. Together Lohse, and Hill combined for 6 shutout innings to open the game. While Hill left the game after the 6th, Lohse stayed in to pitch the 7th and wound up giving up 2 runs on a 2 out pinch double by Tony Batista. Antonio Alfonseca then came in and bailed him out, by inducing a Felipe Lopez ground out to end the inning. The Phils finally got on the board in the 8th inning. A one out single by Carlos Ruiz scored Jayson Werth to cut the lead to 2-1. Then in his first at bat as a Phil, after being recently acquired off waivers, Russel Branyan slugged a 2 run homer to put the Phils up 3-2. With Tom Gordon, and Brett Myers pitching lights out the rest of the way, that was just enough for a 3-2 Phils victory. Unfortunately, the Mets and Padres both won today as well, so the Phils remain 3 games behind the Mets in the NL East, and 1 game behind the Padres in the wildcard. Still, life remains beautiful.
Monday, August 13, 2007
EAGLES NEWS
Well, training camp is finally over for the Eagles now, as tonight they began their preseason schedule, with the proverbial trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens. The Game wound up pretty one-sided, well for a preseason game anyway, as the Ravens won 29-3. Of course since it's the preseason that score means nothing. As far as how the Eagles looked on the night, there's not much to talk about. Donovan Mcnabb sat the night out, and not surprisingly the Eagles first string offense failed to score, but there were some bright spots among the backups. Rookie tight end Brent Celek led all Eagle recievers on the night, with 5 catches for 59 yards, including a 30 yard reception that set up the Eagles only score of the game(obviously a field goal by David Akers). Also rookie Quarterback Kevin Kolb looked pretty good, completing 11 of 20 passes for 70 yards and 0 scores. Perhaps if he had been playing with the 2nd string offense, and not the 3rd and 4th string offenses, those numbers would have been better, as he was victimized by several dropped passes and a fumble. As for the defense the only bright spot was Broderick Bunkley, the Eagles 2006 1st round draft pick. Bunkley demonstrated the massive impact he can have on a game, by blowing up a couple running plays in the backfield, batting down a 3rd down pass, and putting constant pressure on the Quarterback. He just might be that premiere the pass-rusher and run stuffer, the Eagles thought they were getting when they drafted him last year, after all. Finally, the Eagles also suffered a few injuries during the game. Ryan Moats fractured his ankle, Jerome Mcdougle strained his biceps, and Lajuan Ramsey sprained his ankle. Moats is probably out for the season, but with Tony Hunt, Correll Buckhalter, and Brian Westbrook, the Eagles should be fine without him. Mcdougle and Ramsey on the other hand are day to day, and will probably still be ready to start the season.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils had the day off today. Apparently the train to Washington takes a day now. Anyway, needless to say the Phils begin a 3 game series with the Nationals tomorrow. You'd think it would be an easy series for the Phils, but over the last few years the freakishly large confines of RFK stadium have been a real house of horrors for the Phils. So, if they can just take 2 of 3 from the Nationals it will be a major accomplishment for them.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils concluded their 3 games series with the Braves today, with a nationally televised prime time affair. It was a great game, with a playoff-like atmosphere that showed up right from the beginning. In the top of the first inning Chipper Jones slapped a 2 run single for a 2-0 Braves lead. The Phils came back with a run in the bottom of inning on a single by Jayson Werth. Unfortunately ,Pat Burrell was gunned down by Jeff Francoeur, while trying to score a 2nd run. After that both starters, Jamie Moyer for the Phils and Buddy Carlyle for the Braves, beared down and stopped the scoring until the 5th inning. The Phils actually could have scored in the 4th inning as well, but Werth was gunned down by Francoeur while trying to score from 2nd on another single, this time by Abraham Nunez. That set the stage for the 5th inning, where with 2 on and 1 out, Ryan Howard crushed a 3 run homer to put the Phils up 4-2. Atlanta cut the lead to 4-3 in the 7th on a double by Martin Prado, but the Phils came right back again in the bottom of inning, with a run of their own, as Jimmy Rollins tripled and scored on a sac fly by Pat Burrell, to put the Phils up 5-3. With Moyer pitching into 7th, and the bullpen piecing together outs that lead stood up the rest of the way for a 5-3 Philss victory. So, the Phils improve to 62-55, but remain 3 games behind the Mets in the NL East, and 1 game behind the Padres in the wildcard race. Still, life is beautiful once again.
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