The Phils continued their series with the hated Mets this afternoon. As was hoped Jamie Moyer did pitch well, but he flamed out after just 5 and 2/3rd's innings and when all was said and done, he'd been charged with 5 runs on 7 hits during those innings. Fortunately, those 5 and 2/3rd's innings were 3 and 1/3rd more innings than Mets starter Oliver Perez managed to go. So Moyer's performance was enough to keep the Phils in it and it would be up to them to take care of the rest. In the bottom of the 1st, "the Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino tripled and scored on a sac fly and Jayson Werth walked and scored on a single by Jimmy Rollins for the early 2-0 lead. In the top of the 2nd the Mets came back with, yes you guessed it, a sac fly to cut the lead to 2-1. In the bottom of the 2nd Victorino doubled and scored again on a double by Werth for a 3-1 lead. In the top of the 3rd the Mets cut it to 3-2 with ,yes, a sac fly. In the bottom of the 3rd Moyer worked a bases loaded walk for a 4-2 lead, and the end of Perez's day. In the top of the 6th Moyer finally ran out of gas, surrendering back to back Homers to Daniel Murphy and Ramon Castro to tie it at 4. Alex Cora then slapped a triple and that was it for Moyer. Scott Eyre replaced Moyer and could only give up the go ahead run on a single by Luis Castillo. Fortunately Clay Condrey got out of the inning after that to keep it at 5-4 Mets. In the bottom of the 6th, Raul Ibanez crushed the first pitch he saw off Pedro Feliciano for a game tying homer, setting the stage for some late game heroics. Both Bullpens carried the game from there into the 10th inning. In the top of the 10th the Mets failed to capitalize on an opportunity to take back the lead with runners on first and third and 1 out. The Phils were not so merciful in the bottom of the 10th, as Sean Green walked the bases loaded with 2 outs, and then walked Victorino after a long at bat, as the Phils literally walked off with the 6-5 win. So the phils move to 12-10 overall and now just a game out of 1st in the NL East.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils welcomed the hated New York Mets to the Bank tonight to open a weekend series. Chan Ho Park took the mound for the Phils and struggled, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits in just 4 and 2/3rd's innings of work. Meanwhile, the Phils had a bit of an off day at the plate, stranding base runners on more than one occassion, while putting together really only one good inning. So it was a struggle all around for the Phils tonight and they'll need to be sharper the rest of the weekend. Anyway in the top of the 1st, Daniel Murphy lined a 2 run homer just over the fence for a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 2nd the Mets sac flyed in a couple of runs for a 4-0 lead. In the top of the 3rd, the Mets sac flyed in another run for a 5-0 lead. Finally in the bottom of the 3rd, the Phils answered with a 2 RBI single by Raul Ibanez and an RBI single by Pedro Feliz to cut the lead to 5-3. In the top of the 5th David Wright and Mike Pelfrey, the pitcher, each singled in a run for a 7-3 lead. In the bottom of the 7th Chase Utley crushed a solo homer to cut it to 7-4. Finally in the bottom of the 9th with one on and two out K-Rod got Ryan Howard to strike out swinging to preserve the 7-4 win. So the Phils drop to 11-10 overall and will look to rebound tomorrow with the veteran Jamie Moyer on the mound in place of Cole Hamels who remains day to day with the ankle sprain he suffered in his last start.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
SIXERS NEWS
No Dwight Howard and no Courtney Lee was no problem for the Orlando Magic tonight in game 6 of the Sixers' opening playoff series. J.J Redick drilled 5 threes, and Marjun Gortat had 11 and 15 rebounds to offset the absences of Howard and Lee. The Meanwhile the Sixers stumbled and sleepwalked through the entire night. Perhaps they just couldn't get up for it without the prospect of facing Howard, or maybe they just had nothing left to give. Whatever the reason, the defense wasn't there for the Sixers as Orlando hit 12 threes and shot 53% from the field. Meanwhile, offensively it was a nightmare game for the Sixers. Somehow with no Howard patrolling the paint Orlando managed to goad the Sixers into chucking 20 three pointers, which isn't their game at all. It was thought that they would use Howard's absence to drive to the basket and either get to the foul line or get easy layups. Inexplicably, they never really did and the result was one of the most painful season ending games you could ever see. The Sixers simply appeared dazed and confused all night long, and never found any energy. Despite that, their most energetic player off the bench, Reggie Evans, somehow never got in the game. It was as if Dileo forgot he was there. Perhaps if Evans had gotten some minutes, the Sixers energy level might have gone up before too late in the game and the defense might have locked down the magic in enough time to mount a comeback. Instead the Sixers sleapwalked through the game before eventually losing by the embarrassing final score 114-89. So the Sixers get a whole off season now to think about how badly they played tonight and what might have been. No matter, they'll be back in business next season with a healthy Elton Brand and Jason Smith in the lineup. Hopefully then they won't have to face this indignity for a 3 season in a row.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished their series with the Nationals tonight, looking to complete their second series sweep in a row. Brett Myers got the start and was decent allowing just 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings of work. As well as the Phils lineup has performed lately, you would think that would have been enough for the win, especially against the Nationals, but it was not. You just can't win everyday, even against the Nationals. "The Flyin Hawaiian", Shane Victorino actually slugged a solo homer in the bottom of the 1st for the early 1-0 lead. From there though, it was all Nats. In the top of the 3rd Ryan Zimmerman worked a bases loaded walk to knot it up at 1. In the top of the 6th Elijah Dukes singled in a run and scored on a single by Anderson Hernandez for a 3-1 lead. In the top of the 8th Hernandez doubled in another run for a 4-1 lead. Finally in the bottom of the 9th, the Phils for once did not have an answer and succumbed 4-1. So the Phils drop to 11-9 overall but remain 2nd in the NL East now 1.5 games behind Florida.
SIXERS NEWS
In some not so surprising news, the NBA announced that Dwight Howard will be suspended for game 6 of the Sixers opening playoff series tomorrow night. With Courtney Lee apparently out in with an injury for game 6 as well, the Sixers now have a golden opportunity to force a decisive game 7 in the series and perhaps to win the series. They just have to be sure to secure the rebounds that should now fall to them and to continue to play tough d against Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued their series with the Nationals tonight. Cole Hamels got the start and was rolling along into the bottom of the 5th, where with one out, he attempted to field a ground ball to set up a double play and wound up turning his ankle while fielding the ball. He is currently listed again as day to day. So his day was done but the Phils bullpen did a great job the rest of the way, limiting the Nats to just one run on 2 hits the rest of the way. Meanwhile the Phils bats were building up a nice lead they would not soon relinquish. In the bottom of the 3rd Chase Utley crushed a 2 run homer and Pedro Feliz slugged a 3 run homer for a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th Utley struck again with a solo shot for a 6-0 lead. In the top of the 6th Adam Dunn clobbered a solo homer to cut it to 6-1. In the bottom of the 8th Raul Ibanez lined another homer into the seats, this one a solo shot, for a 7-1 lead. Finally in the top of the 9th Clay Condrey closed out the Nats for the 7-1 win. So the Phils improve to 11-8 overall with their 5th win in a row, but remain 2nd in the NL East.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers now find themselves on the brink of elimination after playing game 5 of their opening playoff series with the Magic tonight. Just as in game 2 in Orlando, the Sixers struggled to secure rebounds in this one and so could not put together a final push for victory when they needed it. Also Rashard Lewis had his first good game of the series, hitting 3 threes while scoring 24, and the Sixer's won't win much with Lewis picking them apart. For the Sixers the two Andres led the way as Iggy scored 26 and Miller added 17. Together along with Willie Green and his 16 points, the Sixers were able to stick with the Magc through the first half, trailing by just 6 at halftime with the score 45-39. In the 3rd quarter Orlando pushed ahead by 9 with the score 69-60. From there in the 4th quarter the Sixers just couldn't gather in enough rebounds to make any significant inroads and eventually Orlando ran out to a 13 point win with the final score 91-78. So the Sixers now trail for the first time in the series, 3-2, and will be looking to even it up at 3 games a piece as the series shifts back to the Wachovia center for game 6.
Monday, April 27, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils returned to the Bank tonight to begin a series with the lowly Washington Nationals. Joe Blanton got the start, and well he just hasn't found himself yet this season, and even against the Nationals he just didn't have it. In all he was touched up for 6 runs on 8 hits in just 4 and 1/3rd innings of work. Normally that might have been a recipe for disaster, but fortunately they were playing the Nationals and so instead this one turned into a slugfest for the ages. It began in the top of the 2nd as Alberto Gonzalez sac flyed in one run and the pitcher Shairon Martis singled in a 2nd run for a 2-0 Nat's lead. In the bottom of the 2nd, Greg Dobbs singled in one run and Raul Ibanez doubled and scored on a fielder's choice to knot it up at 2. In the top of the 3rd Ryan Zimmerman crushed a 2 run homer and Elijah Dukes smashed a solo shot for a 5-2 lead. Zimmerman struck again with a solo shot in the top of the 5th for a 6-2 Nat's lead. Ryan Howard answered the bell in the bottom of the inning as he crushed a grand slam to knot it up again at 6. In the top of the 6th Dukes worked a bases loaded walk for a 7-6 Nat's lead. In the bottom of the 6th Jimmy Rollins blooped a double to left field for another run to tie it up again at 7. In the top of the 8th Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn each slammed 2 run homers for an 11-7 lead. It should have been game over for the Phils at that point, except it's never really over when you're playing Nationals. So in the bottom of the 8th, "the Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino sac flyed in one run, Chase Utley singled in a 2nd run, and stunningly Ibanez clobbered the Phils 2nd grand slam of the night for a 13-11 lead. Finally in the top of the 9th Ryan Madson took care of business and closed out the Phils 4th win in a row. So the Phils move to 10-8 overall and now just a half of a game out of 1st in the NL East.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished their series with the Marlins this afternoon, looking to complete the sweep. Thanks to 6 strong innings out of Jamie Moyer in which he allowed just 1 run 7 hits while striking out 6 and a monster 13 run, 12 hit day for the Phils lineup they got the sweep easily. In the top of the 1st Ryan Howard singled in one run and Raul Ibanez sac flyed in another run for a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 4th Moyer got his first hit of the season, a single, and Chase Utley slapped a 2 run single for a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th Hanley Ramirez singled in a run to put Florida on the board and cut the lead to 4-1. In the top of the 7th, Pedro Feliz singled in one run, Greg Dobbs worked a bases loaded walk for a 2nd run, and the "Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino socked another 2 run single for an 8-1 lead. In the top of the 8th, Feliz singled in another run, Matt Stairs worked a bases loaded walk, Victorino lined a 2 run double to right and Eric Bruntlett hit a sac fly to score Stairs for a 13-1 lead. Finally the embarrassed Marlins somehow managed a run on a sac fly in the bottom of the 9th to cut it to 13-2, before J.A Happ closed them out. So the Phils get back over .500 at 9-8 overall and now sit just 1.5 games behind Florida for first in the NL East.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers played game 4 of their opening playoff series with the Magic tonight, looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. It was an ugly night for both teams, and the Sixers were extra scrappy in the final minutes of the 4th quarter erasing a 10 point Orlando lead. For a moment then it did look as if they would get their 3-1 lead, but it was not to be as fate dealt them a cruel hand. Both teams struggled offensively, as the Magic again shot just 30% from the beyond the arc and the Sixers shot just 38% from the field. It was by far the best defensive effort of the Magic thus far this series, and yet they were still outrebounded 43-37 overall and 10-3 on the offensive glass, and allowed the Sixers to take it down to the wire. That says something about the play of the Magic so far in this series. They have simply appeared lazy and disinterested, perhaps because they have no respect for the Sixers, or maybe they just don't care at all I don't know. They may turn it up now that they have the advantage in the series again, but if they don't the Sixers will still have a chance in this series. Anyway back to the game both teams were terrible in the first half and the score heading into the 3rd quarter was an ugly 36-36 tie. In the 3rd quarter Orlando tried to turn it on a bit, and they were able to build a 10 point lead. They were still leading by 10 with about 5 minutes to play. Then the Sixers turned it up on D and made one final push, amazingly tying it up at 81-81 on a dunk by Sammy Dalembert with 15 seconds to play. From there on the ensuing Orlando possession the Magic gave the ball to Hedo Turkoglu who had been struggling all series long. This time he came through drilling a three pointer over Thad Young, who had stepped back just hair to much to stop him. Iggy missed a 3 at the buzzer on the other end and the Magic had their win in Philly 84-81, and the 2-2 series tie. The Sixers will now have to win at least one more game in Orlando to win the series, and that may be asking to much.
EAGLES NEWS
The Birds finished their draft today with some picks that were interesting and useful. First of all they traded away their 3rd and 4th round picks for a chock full of 5th through 7th round picks and 2 time pro bowl CB Ellis Hobbs from the Patriots, which could mean that suddenly disgruntled CB Sheldon Brown is headed out of town. In the 5th round with the 153rd pick they got Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram. With L.J Smith finally out of town the Eagles needed someone to back up Brent Celek and Ingram the fastest TE in the draft will be the guy to do so. Ingram did miss last season with a knee injury, but he has about as much potential as any tight end in the draft so it was good for the Eagles to get him this late. Later in the 5th round with the 157th pick they took Virginia Tech CB Victor Harris, further evidence that Sheldon Brown might be headed out of town. There is nothing particularly special about Harris, but he is versatile and assuming Sheldon's gone, he provides them with some solid secondary depth. Finally they finished the 5th round using the 159th pick to take Oregon tackle Fenuki Tupou another versatile guy who provides some depth. In the 6th round they used the 194th pick to select Washington state WR Brandon Gibson, evidence that perhaps Reggie Brown is gone to. Gibson is a decent receiver, with okay size at 6-1 206 pounds and good hands, so he'll provide some nice depth too if he makes the team. Finally in the 7th round they took Arizona State guard Paul Fanaika with the 213th pick and Maryland LB Moise Fokou with the 230th pick. They're both just a couple of guys who might make the team and provide some depth or not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)