PHILLIES NEWS

Normally this time of the season would be too early for a team to be desperate for a win, but the way the season has started for the Phils the last couple of years, they truly were desperate to win today, salvage a win in the finale of their 3 game set with the Washington Nationals, and hopefully use the win as impetus to avoid another dismal April. On a cold, blustery and wild afternoon the Phils were able to do just that, as for once luck was on their side. The Wily veteran, Jamie Moyer got the start for the Phils this afternoon, and well let's just say he had less than his best allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in just 3 and 2/3rds innings of work. Meanwhile, the Phils offense continued to appear as its anemic snake bitten self with just one run through the first 5 innings(A solo homer for catcher Chris Coste, starting in place of Carlos Ruiz). Thus as the Phils started the bottom of the 6th inning the Nats held a commanding 6-1 lead and yet another season opening sweep loomed only 12 outs away. Thankfully the 6th, proved to be the turning point for the Phils, and perhaps a huge stepping stone to better things to come this season. Up and until now almost all the Phils hits had found the Nat's gloves, but now suddenly they began to find the holes in the infield. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Geoff Jenkins, Pedro Feliz, Chris Coste, Greg Dobbs, and Shane Victorino all singled, and when the dust had finally settled the Phils had pounded out 9 hits and 6 runs in a single inning to go ahead 7-6. Sadly, just as had happened Monday, the Phils bullpen could not hold the lead, as Christian Guzman slapped an infield single on a lucky bounce off of the glove of Jimmy Rollins, to score Ronnie Belliard with the tying run in the top of the 8th. In the bottom of the 8th and the 9th the Phils had their chances to end it, but came up short and the game went into extra innings. After Tom "Flash" Gordon barely got of the 9th inning, Clay Condrey breezed through the 10th inning, setting the stage for another Phils rally in the bottom of the 10th. There they walked away with the win literally. With one out and the bases loaded Jayson Werth stepped up to the plate and worked a walk, forcing in JRoll with the winning run, to cap off an important 8-7 Phils victory. So three games into the season the Phils are 1-2 and for now at least have been able to keep their heads above the April waters.