Saturday, April 12, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued to take it to the Cubs tonight, in the 2nd of their 3 game set. Cole Hamels got the start and was dominant allowing o runs on 1 hit in 7 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Phils weren't so lenient on the Cub's pitching staff scattering 7 runs and 11 hits over their 9 innings. In fact, the only blemish for the Phils on the night came when Shane Victorino went down with a strained calf. Hopefully he won't be out long, but until he returns Sao Taguchi and Jayson Werth will patrol center field, so we'll have to see how that goes. The Phils struck first blood in the bottom of the 2nd inning, as Pedro Feliz slammed a 2 run homer. In the bottom of the 5th the Phils widened the margin and knocked starter Ted Lilly out of the game, as Victorino singled and scored on a wild pitch, Chase Utley doubled, and finally Ryan Howard lofted a 2 run homer to center, for a 5-0 cushion. In the top of the 8th Alphonso Soriano helped the Cubs avoid the shutout by slapping a 2 out RBI single to cut the lead to 5-1. The Phils put it away for good in the bottom of the inning as Carlos Ruiz, singled and scored on a double by Taguchi and Taguchi did likewise on a double by Werth. Then in the 9th, since it was not a save situation Clay Condrey came in and put the Cubs down in order to close out the 7-1 victory. So the Phils improve to 6-6 overall and move to back to .500 for the 3rd time this season.
SIXERS NEWS
The Washington massacre continued tonight as the Sixers traveled to the Nation's capital for a crucial matchup with the Wizards. Unfortunately, the Sixers lost their heads in the 4th quarter, and allowed Washington to emerge victorious. Offensively, five Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Thaddeus Young, Willie Green, Louis Williams) with Iggy's 22 leading the way. Defensively, Sammy D led the way again with 12 rebounds and a block, but Washington still out muscled the Sixers on the boards 48-36, and shot over 50% from beyond the arc, dooming the Sixers to defeat. In the first quarter of play, the Sixers jumped out to an early 7 point lead with a flurry of fast break points, with the score 30-23. In the second quarter of play, Washington took away the fast break and turned the tables ,taking a 4 point lead with the score 57-53. In the 3rd quarter of play, the Sixers found the fast break again and used it to take a 6 point lead with the score 84-78 heading into the 4th quarter. The 4th quarter however, belonged to Washington as they outscored the Sixers 31-9 and ran away to a 16 point win, with the final score 109-93. So the Sixers drop to 40-40 overall and 2 games behind the 5th place Wizards, significantly reducing their chances of getting that spot they needed. So for now they sit at 7th in the East just a half a game out of 6th, and will likely either finish 6th or stay where they are in 7th.
Friday, April 11, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils returned to the Bank tonight, welcoming in the Chicago Cubs for a weekend series. Brett Myers got the start tonight, and produced his first solid outing of the season, hopefully a harbinger of things to come, allowing just 3 runs on 5 hits in 8 innings of work. Meanwhile, with JRoll still out of the lineup, it was the big bat of Pat "the Bat" Burrell that stepped up for the Phils as he racked up a homer and an RBI double to help power the Phils to victory. In the top of the first, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit back to back 2 out homers and the Cubs led 2-0. The Phils finally answered back in the bottom of the 4th as Pat Burrell slammed a 2 run homer to tie it at 2. In the bottom of the 5th they kept it going as the Flyin Hawaiian, Shane Victorino walked and scored on a clutch 2 out double by "Roy Hobbs", Greg Dobbs for a 3-2 lead. In the top of the 6th the Cubs answered back as Alphonso Soriano banged a solo homer to tie it at 3. Finally, in the bottom of the 6th the Phils pulled away for good, as Burrell crushed an RBI double and then scored on a clutch 2 out single by Carlos Ruiz, to put the Phils up 5-3. From there Myers steered it into the 9th, where after serving up a one out double to Ramirez, Brad Lidge retired the side and the Cubs for his 2nd save and a 5-3 Phils win. So the Phils improve to 5-6 overall thus far.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers didn't quite start the playoffs the way they wanted to tonight in Washington against the Capitals. For a while everything seemed to be going there way, but alas, it was but another aberration as a 3rd period collapse doomed the Flyer's to defeat. Early in the first period of play, Donald Brashear, yes the former Flyer enforcer, scored for a 1-0 Caps lead. A few minutes later Vinny Prospal answered back for the Flyers, tieing it at one. Early in the 2nd period of play Dan Steckel scored for a 2-1 Caps lead. Later in the period Danny Briere, Prospal and then Briere again scored 3 goals in rapid succession to push the Flyers ahead 4-2 heading into the 3rd period. Early in the 3rd period of play Mike Green scored twice, once on the power play and once at even strength, to knot it up again at 4. Then Ubertalent Alexander Ovechkin made his first appearance of the playoffs, breaking the Flyer's hearts as he scored with just under 5 minutes to play to put the Caps ahead 5-4. From there the Caps played strong D and the Flyers just couldn't find one more goal to force overtime and eventually succumbed to drop game 1 to the Caps 5-4. Now, if they want to maintain any prayer of advancing to the next round the Flyers will have to just shake it off and win game two.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers struggled tonight as they welcomed the desperate Indiana Pacers, two games out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the East with 4 games to play, to the Wachovia center. The Sixer's just didn't look like themselves tonight. They looked like the old Sixers, bereft of confidence and desperately just trying to keep the game close. Their shots didn't fall, the turnovers slipped out of their hands, and Indiana never wavered, dealing the Sixers the tough loss. Offensively, only two Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Miller, Thaddeus Young) with Miller's 23 leading the way. Defensively, Sammy D led the way with 17 rebounds and 2 blocks, but overall it was only a decent night for the Sixer's D, not a great one as they had no answer for the Pacer's Danny Granger who shredded them for 30 points and 12 rebounds. In the first quarter of play the Sixers actually clung to the early one point lead, with the score 18-17. In the second quarter of play the Pacers surged ahead to a 6 point lead, with the score 43-37 at the half. In the 3rd quarter of play the Pacers simply stood pat and took their 6 point lead into the 4th, with the score 67-61. Finally in the 4th quarter the Pacers pulled away for good and eventually won by 9 with the final score 85-76. So the Sixers drop to 40-39 overall, but remain 6th in the East, still 1 game out of 5th.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished off their 3 game set with the Mets tonight in just about the toughest fashion possible. Adam Eaton, who still has not lost to the Mets in his career(only because he got a no-decision tonight) got the start and again pitched well, allowing just 3 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings of work. Unnfortunately, once again the Phil's lineup could do nothing without the reigning MVP setting the table, and nearly wasted another solid outing by Eaton, but in the end it came down to some controversial late inning heroics that just happened to not go the Phils way. In the bottom of the 4th inning Ryan Church slapped a 2 out 2 RBI single for a 2-0 Mets lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Angel Pagan doubled and scored on a single by Carlos Beltran for a 3-0 Met's lead. In the top of the 7th the Phils finally started on the comeback trail, as Pedro Feliz slammed a solo homer just inside the foul pole to cut the lead to 3-1. In the top of the 8th, they made it all the way back as Ryan Howard crushed a solo homer to center, and Sao Taguchi, pinch running for Pat Burrell, scored on a fielder's choice to tie it at 3. From there the bullpens took over the game until with two out in the bottom of the 12th, and the always dangerous Jose Reyes on second after a double, Angel Pagan rolled a single to shallow center and Jayson Werth charged and fired, seemingly cutting down Reyes at the plate perfectly blocked by Chris Coste, but somehow the ump didn't see it that way and called him safe with one of those overly enthusiastic calls that says "I'm not really sure what I saw, so I better sell it". So maybe he was out or maybe he was safe, who knows, but at any rate the Phils drop to 4-6 overall thus far and continue their April struggles.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
Fresh off a rare home loss to the Hawks in their last game, the Sixers welcomed the Detroit Pistons to the Wachovia center tonight. Sure the Pistons are already locked into the second seed in the East but they still brought some high energy into this one and made the Sixers earn it and earn it they did. Offensively, four Sixers scored in the double figures(Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert, Willie Green, Louis Williams) with Iggy's 25 leading the way, including 4 clutch three pointers. Defensively, Sammy D led the way again with 13 rebounds and a block as the Sixer's out rebounded Detroit 43-39 and held them to just 43% shooting from the field, while the Sixer's shot over 50% from the field. In the first quarter of play, the Sixers jumped out to a 4 point lead with the score 29-25. In the 2nd quarter of the play, the Sixers simply stood firm and extended their lead to 6 with the score 58-52. The 3rd quarter of play was more of the same as the Sixers pushed their lead out 8, with the score 81-73 heading into the 4th. Finally in the 4th quarter of play the Sixers actually had the lead out to 14 at one point before Detroit cut it down 5 with just under 3 minutes to play. Fortunately, from there the Sixers regrouped and hung on to win by 7, with the final score 101-84. So the Sixers collect their 40th win of the season to improve to 40-38 overall, but remain 6th in the East, still just a game out of 5th.
PHILLIES NEWS
Coming into tonight the Phils had won 9 in a row against the Mets, but tonight without reigning MVP, Jimmy Rollins(he sat out with his ankle sprain), in the lineup things were different. Kyle Kendrick got the start and was roughed up allowing 7 runs on 4 hits in just 2 and 1/3rd innings of work. Meanwhile, Mike Pelfrey turned in a rare good outing for a NY pitcher allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings of work, as the Phils offense never really got started without their leadoff man. So in the end it was a particularly sloppy and disappointing night for the fightins. In the bottom of the first Jose Reyes walked and scored on a throwing error for a 1-0 Mets lead. In the top of the second Carlos Ruiz slapped an RBI single to tie it at 1. The tie would not last long. In bottom of third it all unraveled for Kendrick and the Phils. A single by Damian Easley, a throwing error by Eric Bruntlett(JRoll's replacement), a double by Angel Pagan, another error by Bruntlett and a wild pitch by Chad Durbin(who had come in to replaced Kendrick) led to 6 runs for the Mets as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead they would not relinquish. The two teams added on some runs later in the game, but it did little to change outcome as the Mets eventually prevailed 8-2. So the Phils drop to 4-5 on the season thus far, hopefully JRoll will be back for tomorrow's game.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils began a 3 game set with the Mets at Shea stadium's home opener this afternoon. Last season after dropping their first series to the Mets, the Phils wound up dominating the season series 12-6 en route to a miracle September run to the division title. Today they simply picked up right where they left off. The veteran Jamie Moyer got the start and did not disappoint allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits in 6 innings of work. Meanwhile the Phils scattered 5 runs and 8 hits over 9 innings, and the bullpen, led by Chad Durbin, J.C Romero, and Flash Gordon, combined for three scoreless innings in relief. So it was a total team effort for the Fightins when they needed it most. In the bottom of the second inning Carlos Delgado started things off with a solo homer. In the bottom of the 4th Carlos Beltran scored on a fielder's choice for a 2-0 lead, but the Mets blew a golden opportunity to do further damage, as the bases had been loaded with nobody out before the fielder's choice. In the top of 7th, as the Mets bullpen took control of the game the Phils finally got on the board in a big way. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino singled, Chase Utley was hit by pitch for the third time in the game, a Carlos Delgado throwing error allowed JRoll and Victorino to score, and finally a Jayson Werth single, scored Utley, and just like that the Phils had a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. In the top of the 8th, JRoll slapped an RBI single, and scored on a double by Chase Utley, to extend the Phils lead to 5-2, but not before spraining his ankle, but he's day to day at this point and hopefully okay. Finally in the bottom of the 9th Flash put the Mets down in the order to cap off a 5-2 Phils win. So the Phils even their record at 4-4 and continue their dominance over the Mets. Ya gotta love it.
Monday, April 07, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished off their 4 game set with Cincinnati earlier this afternoon, as Cole Hamels got his second start of the season. Once again he delivered a quality effort, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits in 7 innings of work, and this time the Phils backed him up with some runs and got him the win. The Phils got off to a quick start in the top of the first as a solo homer by Jimmy Rollins and a 2 run homer by Pat Burrell gave them a 3-0 lead. The Reds answered back in the bottom of the inning as a fielder's choice and a Jeff Kepinger single cut the lead to 3-2. In the top of the 3rd Burrell and Geoff Jenkins crushed back to back homers for a 5-2 Phils lead. From there that lead held up until the bottom of the 9th as new closer Brad Lidge came in to get his first save as a Phil. After two quick outs Lidge loaded the bases. A wild pitch then allowed Paul Bako to score and cut the lead to 5-3. It also allowed Ken Griffey Jr, representing the winning run to move up to second, as in scoring position. Fortunately, after another near wild pitch, Lidge was able buckle down and strike out Javier Valentin to end it in a 5-3 Phils win. So the Phils move to 3-4 on the season thus far and at least for now avoid falling behind as far as they usually do this time year.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
PHILLIES NEWS
This afternoon in the 3rd of their 4 game set with Cincinnati, Brett Myers got the start for the Phils and struggled allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in just 5 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Red's Edison Volquez dazzled the Phils to the tune of 1 run on 5 hits in the 5 and 1/3rd innings of work. So it was an especially frustrating afternoon for the Phils. The Reds took the early lead in the bottom of the first on a 2 run homer by Ken Griffey Jr. In the bottom of the 3rd Jeff Kepinger slapped a solo homer for a 3-0 Reds lead. In the bottom of the 4th Corey Patterson hit a 2 out double to score Paul Bako for a 4-0 Reds lead. In the top of 5th, the Phils finally got on the board as Carlos Ruiz doubled and scored to cut the lead to 4-1. Just as the Phils seemed to be turning things around, the Reds struck in the bottom of the 6th, where a double by Jeff Kepinger, a single by Adam Dunn, and a fielder's choice, scored 4 runs and pushed the Red's lead to an insurmountable 8-1. Finally, in the top of the 8th Chase Utely doubled and scored a relatively meaningless run , on a single by Pat Burell, that did nothing but reduce the final margin to 8-2 as the Phils went down in order in the 9th. So the Phils drop to 2-4 overall, but considering how bad they've been in April the past couple years that's not too bad at all.
FLYERS NEWS
After clinching a playoff spot in their last game, this afternoon's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the last of the season, was all about playoff positioning for the Orange and Black. With a win they would have the 6th seed in the East, with a loss they would stay as the 8th seed in the East. Thanks to the dazzling play of goalie Marty Biron who compiled 20 saves on his way to his second straight shutout, the Flyers were able to get the win and the all important 6th seed in the East. In the first period of play neither team could light the lamp. Late in the second period of play, Scottie Upshall scored for a 1-0 Flyers lead. Finally, late in the 3rd period of play ,with the desperate Penguins having pulled goalie Marc Andre Fleury to make a final push, Mike Knuble scored on the Pens empty net for a 2-0 Flyers lead with under a minute to play. From there, Biron shut down the Pens the rest of the way to close out the 2-0 Flyer's victory. So the Flyers finish the season as the 6th seed in the East and will start the playoffs in Washington against the Caps. I'll see you there.
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