The Phils continued their series with the Nationals tonight. Cole Hamels got the start and he wasn't quite Hollywood on this night, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits while striking out 7 in 6 innings. However, thanks to 3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and a 2 homer 5 RBI night by Ryan Howard, Hamels' outing was just good enough to earn him the win. The Phils actually fell behind early as Will Nieves lined a 2 run double and Anderson Hernandez added an RBI single in the top of the 2nd for a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd Howard crushed a solo homer to cut it to 3-1. Then in the bottom of the 3rd Jimmy Rollins singled in one run and Howard annihilated a grand slam to the 3rd deck in right field, only about the 3rd homer that has ever been hit there, for a 6-3 lead. In the top of the 4th Aberto Gonzalez tripled in a run to cut it to 6-4. In the bottom of the 4th Hamels himself slapped an RBI double for a 7-4 lead. In the top of the 6th Ronnie Belliard lined a 2 run homer off Hamels just before he could finish his last inning, cutting the lead to 7-6. In the bottom of the 6th with the bases loaded, Howard hit what appeared to be an inning ending groundout, but Gonzalez booted it allowing 2 runs to score for a 9-6 lead. From there Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey combined for a scoreless 7th, Ryan Madson rolled through the 8th, and Brad Lidge got another easy save in the 9th, thanks to a spectacular double play in which a diving Rollins flipped the ball to Chase Utley who barehanded it, tagged 2nd ,and fired to Howard at first for the 2nd out. With 9 runs on 10 hits, the Phils did a much better job with runners on base tonight just as I thought they would. As for Hamels, while it wasn't his best effort, it appeared that just he got a little fatigued. In fact he threw 106 pitches overall, mostly because his location was just a little off tonight. That is really a rare occasion for Hamels to be missing his locations and he knows how to adjust to ensure it won't happen again so I wouldn't worry to much. The important thing is that he got the 9-6 win, which moves the Phils to 27-20 overall and back into 1st place in the NL East by a half a game over the Mets
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils welcomed the Washington Nationals to the Bank tonight to begin a weekend series. J.A Happ got his second start of the season and looked sharp again, allowing just 3 runs on 3 hits in 5 and 1/3rd innings. Unfortunately, he didn't get much run support as the Phils left more than 13 runners on base, collecting 16 hits and 24 total bases, but only 5 runs. Fortunately, 5 was just enough to hold off the Nationals, currently the team with the worst record in the majors. In the top of the 2nd Josh Willingham slugged a solo homer for a 1-0 Nats lead. In the bottom of the inning, Carlos Ruiz doubled in a run tie it at 1. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Nats misplayed, not one, not two, but 3 balls in the outfield, resulting in a 2 run single by Raul Ibanez, and an RBI triple by Pedro Feliz for a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the 4th, Jimmy Rollins doubled and scored on a fielder's choice for a 5-1 lead. In the top of the 6th the Nats rallied back with 3 runs on a double by Josh Bard, a single by Anderson Hernandez and a throwing error by Jayson Werth to cut the lead to 5-4. The Phils then had several chances from there to blow the game open, but just couldn't get that one hit they needed to knock in a few runs. Fortunately the phils bullpen from the 7th on shut down the Nats the rest of the way as Brad Lidge collected the save in the 9th with a rare, this season anyway, 1-2-3 inning. Basically the Phils took care of business tonight against an inferior Nationals team. Still, I would like to have seen them score a few more runs. You really can't leave so many people on base all the time. Truthfully though this is the first time I can recall them leaving that many people on base this season. Therefore I wouldn't worry too much about it just yet. They'll just have to make sure it doesn't continue. Anyway so the Phils improve to 26-20 overall but remain a half a game behind the Mets in the NL East.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers made it official today at last, announcing Eddie Jordan as the team's new head coach. Frankly he was the best coach available and fits their current system fairly well. Also he had a prior relationship with GM Ed Stefanski in as an assitant coach in New Jersey, while Stefanksi was the Nets GM So it's no suprise he got the job. As a disciple of the princetion offense where motion and passing in the half court is key and at least in Jordan's scheme the fast break is still a weapon , he would seem to be a good candidate to figure out a way to incorporate Elton Brand into the Sixer's offense when he returns next season. Overall Jordan has a 230-288 record as head coach mostly with the Wizards, whom he guided to playoffs 4 times in 5 seasons, grooming Antawn Jamison, Gilbert "Agent Zero" Arenas, and Caron Butler, into all-stars along the way. Thus, Jordan could very well help the Sixers improve greatly next season, but of course only time will tell if he is the right choice. I think he is though.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The MRI on Brett Myer's hip today revealed a fraying and a possible tearing in the labrum of his hip. That is bad news, because that is the same injury for which Chase Utley and A-Rod needed surgery. If Myers needs surgery he like the other two could have miss up to 3 months to recover. That would be a huge blow to a Phils rotation that was just finally beginning to come together. Myers will be seeking a second opinion tomorrow and perhaps it will turn out that the injury isn't quite that serious and that he can play through it. If he does have to miss 3 months the Phils will have a decision to make about replacing him. Either Chan Ho Park can move from the bullpen back to the rotation or the Phils can call someone up from AAA, say perhaps Kyle Kendrick who was in the rotation the last two seasons or some other prospect.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished their series with the Marlins tonight. Brett Myers got the start and pitched well for 5 innings, allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits. Then in the 6th he was touched up for a further 3 runs on 3 hits before leaving with just 2 outs in the inning with soreness in his hip(He'll have an MRI tomorrow). That 6th inning was basically the difference, as the phils again put up little offense, with just 2 runs on 8 hits. In the top of the 4th Dan Uggla slammed a solo homer for a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 5th Wes Helms sac flyed in a run for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 5th Carlos Ruiz got the Phils on the board with a solo shot to cut the lead to 2-1. In the top of the 6th Uggla doubled in a run and Cody Ross slugged a 2 run homer for a 5-1 lead. In the top of the 8th Matt Stairs uncorked a pinch solo homer to cut the lead to 5-2. The Phils then put two on with one out for Chase Utley but he flyed out, and then with two out Ryan Howard struck out chasing a high fastball. In the top of the 9th Ronny Paulino singled in a run for a 6-2 lead. Finally in the bottom of the inning the Phils had another opportunity loading the bases with 2 out for Jimmy Rollins, but he flyed out as well for the 6-2 Marlin's win. So the Phils lose yet another series at the Bank and drop to 9-14 at the Bank thus far this season. Meanwhile they are an incredible 16-6 overall on the road. What gives? How can you go to new Yankee stadium and win 2 of 3 then come home and lose 2 of 3. In fact so far this season the Phils have just one series at home, against the lowly Nationals. I just don't understand why they can't win at home, but whatever it is that's causing them to stink at home, they better figure it out because you can only go 10 games over .500 on road for so long. Anyway so the phils drop to 25-20 overall and now down to 2nd in the NL East a half a game behind the Mets.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued their series with the Marlins tonight. Joe Blanton got the start and was brilliant tossing 7 shutout innings while allowing just 5 hits and striking out a career best 11. Meanwhile, the Phils managed to collect 5 runs on 10 hits, with a bases loaded walk, a sac fly by Raul Ibanez and a single by Pedro Feliz in the bottom of the 1st, a double by Shane Victorino in the bottom of the 6th and a double by Feliz in the bottom of the 7th for a 5-0 lead. From there Ryan Madson pitched a perfect 8th and then Chad Durbin came in to pitch the 9th. There things got a little interesting. Durbin managed to retire just one batter before loading the bases. Next Scott Eyre induced a groundball but Ryan Howard fielded the ball and committed his first error of the season thus far, allowing 2 runs to score to cut the lead to 5-2. That Forced Brad Lidge to come in for the save, and he too loaded the bases, walking the first batter he faced. Fortunately, he settled in from there, inducing a groundout and then striking out Wes Helms to at last close out the 5-3 win. After tonight I would say that Joe Blanton is back. With Brett Meyers, Cole Hamels, and Jamie Moyer pitching well, and J.A Happ looking like a good fit as the 5th starter I think the Phils rotation is back in business. As for the bullpen it was a bit shaky tonight but there's nothing to worry about. J.C Romero will be back from his suspension next week and other than tonight they've been pretty good without him. So the Phils move to 25-19 overall and remain a half a game up on the Mets for 1st in the NL East.
Monday, May 25, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils returned to the Bank tonight to begin a series with the Marlins. Jamie Moyer got the start once again looking for win No. 250. He pitched fairly well, allowing just 4 runs on 7 hits in 6 solid innings. Once again it wasn't good enough as ex-Phil Wes Helms collected 3 hits and knocked in 4 runs to thwart Moyer. All in all it was just another one of those off nights for the Phils lineup resulting in a loss. In fact so far this season in games like this when the Phils score 3 runs or less they are 0-14 which obviously points to the fact that the starting pitching just hasn't been that great just yet, although it does seem to be getting better. On this night Ryan Howard was responsible for all 3 runs. In the bottom of the 1st he crushed a 2 run homer for a 2-0 lead. In the top of the 4th Helms answered with a 3 run homer to put the Fish up 3-2 and then Ronnie Paulino, whom the Phils cut in spring training, slapped an RBI single in the top of the 6th to make it 4-2. In the bottom of the 6th Howard answered with a solo homer to cut it to 4-3. From there Chan Ho Park pitched the final 3 innings in relief allowing just one run on a single by Helms for a 5-3 lead. Despite Park's performance the Phils just couldn't get anything going in those final innings and eventually lost 5-3. So the Phils drop to to 24-19 overall, but remain a half a game up in the NL East. Now just to go back to that 0-14 thing, that can't continue for the rest of the season. You just can't expect to score a boatload of runs every night. On other the hand the Phils rotation does seem to be on the upswing at this point so I don't think that will continue for the rest of the season. Eventually the Phils will win some close low scoring games.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished their series with the Yankees this afternoon. Cole Hamels got the start and out dueled Yankee ace C.C Sabathia, allowing just 2 runs on 8 hits in 6 strong innings of work, while Sabathia allowed 3 runs on 9 hits in 8 innings. Thus, it came down to Brad Lidge in the 9th once again and again he blew the save, but this time it didn't cost the Phils the game. That was thanks in large part to Carlos Ruiz who had the game of his life, racking up 3 hits, an RBI, a stolen base, and 2 putouts of runners trying to steal 2nd. In the top of the 3rd Ruiz collected his first hit and scored on a double by Jimmy Rollins who then scored on a singly by "the Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino, for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning Johny Damon doubled in a run to cut it to 2-1. In the top of the 6th Victorino singled and scored on a double by Raul Ibanez. In the bottom of the inning Mark Teixeira slugged a solo homer to cut it to 3-2. It stayed that way until Brad Lidge allowed back to back singles to leadoff the bottom of the 9th, allowing Melky Cabrera to single in the tying run and send the game into extras. From there Clay Condrey toughed out two scoreless innings in the 10th and 11th innings and then Ruiz struck again in the 11th. With 2 out and Chase Utley on second, Ruiz ripped a double just inside the line to score Utley for a 4-3 lead. As mentioned Clay Condrey struck out the side in the bottom of the inning and the Phils had the 4-3 win and series. Okay so Lidge blew another save, but at least this time he kept the game tied and that is progress in my book. Also it is great to see Ruiz hitting like this, not just today but the entire series. It is quite a luxury to get 3 hits a night from the guy batting 8th in the lineup, and if that continues then no one will be able to slow down this lineup for the rest of the season. Anyway so with the win today the Phils move to 24-18 overall and back to 1.5 games up in the NL East.
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