The Phils completed their series with the Mets today with a doublheader. In the first game of the doubleheader Kyle Kendrick got the spot start and pitched surprisingly well allowing just 2 runs on 7 hits in 7 and 1/3rd innings. Meanwhile, the Phils scattered 5 runs over 8 innings, with a RBI double by Ryan Howard in the 1st, a solo homer by Ben Francisco in the 4th, a 2 run homer by "the Flyin Hawaiian", Shane Victorino in the 6th, and an RBI single by Andy Tracy, recently called up from AAA Lehigh, in the 8th inning. Thus the Phils took a 5-2 lead into the 9th inning. Then in came Brad Lidge for the save and again it wasn't pretty but this time he got it done. After allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, Lidge managed to strike out Angel Pagan to at last close out a 5-4 win. In the 2nd game of the doubleheader Pedro Martinez got the start and tossed a gem, going 8 scoreless innings, while allowing just 6 hits and striking out 7. Meanwhile, the Phils managed to get a run in the 1st inning on an RBI single by Chase Utley, but they too could not score after that. Thanks to Pedro they didn't need too. Carlos Ruiz also helped to preserve the 1-0 lead, gunning down Daniel Murphy at 3rd base as he attempted to advance from 2nd on a wild pitch. Then in the 9th in came Ryan Madson to get the save. Once again it wasn't the cleanest save in the world but he got it done. After allowing a 1 out single, Madson struck out Jeff Franceour and allowed Pagan to hit a screaming liner right into the glove of Pedro Feliz to close out the 1-0 win. Considering the Marlins lost this afternoon, it was huge that the Phils were able to sweep this doubleheader. It was a total shock to see Kendrick pitch so well, in what will probably be his last start of the season, assuming J.A Happ comes healthy before the Phils next double header. Still it is comforting to know Kendrick can still get it done. He could be valuable next season. The Phils continued to struggle to score runs on this day. The 5 runs in the first game were fine, but to only score 1 run in the 2nd game against Tim Redding was a bit of a letdown. For whatever Redding has just had the Phils number so far in his career. I am surprised Pedro Martinez was able to go 8 innings tonight. I didn't think he would ever be able, at least not this season, to go any more than 7 innings a start. I guess he has now just about locked up a spot in the Phils rotation for the rest of the season. Anyway so the Phils move to 82-60 overall and now 6.5 games up in the NL East.
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2 comments:
Woo good pitching through out and two nice saves and those games are really nice when it comes down to the playoff spot safety barrier. Martinez especially impressed me with the 8 innings he went. I was never expecting that.
-to ph1llysports
yeah I didn't expect that either, but it was really nice for the Phils to get that from him and widen their lead in the NL East.
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