Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. The good was Cole Hamels went another 7 innings, allowing just 1 run on 8 hits while striking out 6. Unfortunately, the Phils didn't score for Hamels at all and he actually ended getting a no decision. Randy Wells, who came in just 4-7 on the season with an ERA over 4, somehow held the Phils scoreless through 7 despite allowing 7 hits. The Phils had runners in scoring position in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th innings and failed to cash in every time. Luckily, thanks to Hamels brilliant start and a perfect 8th inning from Chad Durbin that failure to launch if you will, did not come back to bite them.Instead, some more 9th inning magic was in order. Carlos Marmol was perfect for the Cubs yesterday, but not today. He got Greg Dobbs to fly out to start inning then walked Ross Gload and Brian Schneider before striking out Shane Victorino. He then had 2 strikes on Placido Polanco and was within reach of another, albeit imperfect, save.
In his first game back from the DL, Polanco reminded everyone of why the Phils had missed him so much, slapping a single through the hole to score Schneider with the tying run. Of course Schneider should have been out by a mile, but Geovanny Soto dropped the throw home and rally was on. An obviously rattled Marmol threw a wild pitch under Jimmy Rollin's legs to allow Gload to score for a 2-1 lead. Next he intentionally walked Ryan Howard to load the bases for Jayson Werth. Werth too was walked after a long bat and the Phils led 3-1. Finally, after a wild 5 walk outing Marmol was removed in favor of James Russell. Russell got Raul Ibanez to ground out to end the inning, except he failed to cover first to allow another run to score for a 4-1 lead. Finally Andrew Cashner replaced Russell and allowed Cody Ransom to crush a line drive up the middle that Starlin Castro made a spectacular diving play on to end the inning.
So it came down to Brad Lidge time in the bottom of the 9th. Lidge was almost made it as interesting as Marmol had before closing out win. He struck out Mike Fontenot, then made a lucky grab of a ball Castro hit right back at him and almost threw it away, but Ryan Howard managed to get down and grab it for the out. Next Kosuke Fukudome worked a walk to bring Ryan Theriot to the plate and put the tying run in the on deck circle. After another long at bat Lideg got Theriot to pop up but Ransom, not best infielder in the world, erroneously left it for Werth, who was out of position. Somehow Werth managed to stretch out and grab it at the last second, while tumbling over in front of a surprised Ransom. It wasn't a pretty inning or a pretty game for that matter but a win is a win. Speaking of luck the Mets and Braves both lost again tonight to move the Phils into 2nd in the NL East, within 4.5 games of 1st. Sometimes it's better to be luck than good.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
Once again the Phils had a lead this afternoon against the Cubs and once again they weren't able to make it hold up. This time Joe Blanton allowed just 1 run through 5 while Shane Victorino slammed a solo homer in the 4th and Ryan Howard launched another 2 run shot in the 6th to stake the Phils to a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th. There Blanton quickly got the 1st 2 outs and had 2 strikes on Aramis Ramirez but failed to put him away before allowing a 2 out double. That opened the door for ex-Phil Marlon Byrd to blast a 2 homer of his own and tie it up at 3. From there Blanton got out of a jam in the 7th, to finish his night having allowed just 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 8 in 7 strong innings. It was probably his best outing of the season thus far and yet it went for naught thanks to the Phils lackluster offensive performance.
Anyway, Ryan Madson supplanted Blanton in the 8th and he too got the first 2 outs quickly and had 2 strikes on Ramirez before allowing a solo shot for a 4-3 Cubs' lead. That pretty much took the air out of the Phils' sails after that and in the 9th the always volatile Carlos Marmol struck them out in order to finish off another disappointing loss. If this Phils lineup can't get things figured out soon they won't be heading anywhere this season. It is just frustrating to watch the pitching perform so well all the time for nothing. Fortunately, Placido Polanco returns from the DL tomorrow and maybe he'll be able to jump start the Phils stagnant offense. God knows no one else has been able to for some time. For now anyway the Phils got a little lucky as both the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets lost tonight. So despite falling to 47-43 overall the Phils did not lose any ground in the NL East. If only they could figure out a way to start gaining ground.
Anyway, Ryan Madson supplanted Blanton in the 8th and he too got the first 2 outs quickly and had 2 strikes on Ramirez before allowing a solo shot for a 4-3 Cubs' lead. That pretty much took the air out of the Phils' sails after that and in the 9th the always volatile Carlos Marmol struck them out in order to finish off another disappointing loss. If this Phils lineup can't get things figured out soon they won't be heading anywhere this season. It is just frustrating to watch the pitching perform so well all the time for nothing. Fortunately, Placido Polanco returns from the DL tomorrow and maybe he'll be able to jump start the Phils stagnant offense. God knows no one else has been able to for some time. For now anyway the Phils got a little lucky as both the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets lost tonight. So despite falling to 47-43 overall the Phils did not lose any ground in the NL East. If only they could figure out a way to start gaining ground.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils returned from the All-Star break tonight as they hooked up with the Cubs in Chicago. Chad Durbin was activated from the DL yesterday so coming into tonight the Phils had their full slate of relievers all healthy for the first time all season. Unfortunately, at least for tonight it didn't really matter. Jamie Moyer got the start and looked a bit rusty, even only a couple of extra days off will do that to an old pitcher like the Moyer, and he payed for it. In just 3 innings he was touched up for 6 runs on 5 hits and the route was on. Still, the Phils already had 2 runs thanks to a 2 run blast from Ryan Howard and so only trailed by 4 following Moyer's last stand .
Initially the now healthy bullpen managed to help the Phils to hang in there for a while, down by just 4. Then in the 7th and 8th innings Jose Contreras and Danys Baez each got a bit unlucky and were hit around quite a bit. All told they combined to allow 6 runs on 6 hits and by the 9th Chicago had run up a massive 12-2 lead. To their credit the Phils did not go quietly. Back to back RBI singles by Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino and another 2 run blast from Howard cut the lead to 12-6 with 2 outs and gave the Phils fans scattered around the stadium, brief renewed hope for a win. Alas it wasn't to be as Jayson Werth popped up to end it. However, with the positive way the Phils finished this game, you have to like their chances in the rest of this series. For now though they drop to back 5.5 games out in the NL East and can only scratch their heads again .
Initially the now healthy bullpen managed to help the Phils to hang in there for a while, down by just 4. Then in the 7th and 8th innings Jose Contreras and Danys Baez each got a bit unlucky and were hit around quite a bit. All told they combined to allow 6 runs on 6 hits and by the 9th Chicago had run up a massive 12-2 lead. To their credit the Phils did not go quietly. Back to back RBI singles by Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino and another 2 run blast from Howard cut the lead to 12-6 with 2 outs and gave the Phils fans scattered around the stadium, brief renewed hope for a win. Alas it wasn't to be as Jayson Werth popped up to end it. However, with the positive way the Phils finished this game, you have to like their chances in the rest of this series. For now though they drop to back 5.5 games out in the NL East and can only scratch their heads again .
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers and Evan Turner have come to terms on a 2 year deal that will pay Turner about $8 million. He also gets an option for a 3rd year if all goes well at $4.4 million. So step in the Sixers rebuilding process is complete. Better late than never.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
At long last the NL defeated the AL 3-1 tonight to end a 13 game losing streak in the All-Star game and give themselves home field for the world series, for the first time since the 'this time it counts' thing started. Before tonight the NL last won in 1996 right here at the since imploded Vet. Funny how now that we finally have a nice new stadium we can't even sniff an All-Star game. Anyway back to the game, in the year of the pitcher, the NL won with what else, pitching. 9 NL pitchers, including Roy Halladay for 2/3rds of inning, combined to hold the AL to just 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 8. Meanwhile, Brian McCann provided the big blow with what turned out to be the game winning bases clearing double in the 7th inning, and he copped the MVP award. For his part as the starting DH, Ryan Howard went 0 for 2 with a strikeout. So the Braves who lead the NL East, now have the all-star game MVP as well. Kinda makes you think maybe it's their year. On other hand back in 1964 the Phils produced the All-Star game MVP as well and they too had the lead, not in division, it didn't exist then, but in the NL itself. Eventually as everyone knows by now they blew it all in September. Perhaps Atlanta will do the same.
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers signed Dan Carcillo to a 1 year 1.075 million deal today, avoiding arbitration. This likely means both Daroll Powe and Aaron Asham won't be back next season and obviously someone is going to be traded. I just wonder who it will be. As for Dan Carcillo, he showed last season that he can be handy with his fists and provide a nice scoring touch when on the right line. There's nothing wrong with having a guy like that on your hockey team, at least for another year anyway.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles and 5th round pick, Florida WR Riley Cooper agreed to a 4 year deal today. He is the 13th of the Phils 15 draft picks to sign. Only top picks, Nate Allen and Brandon Graham, remain unsigned. Cooper figures to be nothing more than a big red zone target for the Birds this season. He's likely to be too far down the depth chart to be much of anything else but you never know.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
In their last game before the all-star break the Phils looked to complete a remarkable 4 game sweep of the Reds. Cole Hamels was brilliant in blanking Cincinnati for 7 and 2/3rds innings on just 6 hits. He did a great job mixing up his pitches and left the Red's hitters guessing all day long. Even when they did guess right and put runners on base he remained unfazed, pitching out of not 1 but 2 tough jams. First the Reds had a man on 2nd with 2 out in the 3rd for Brandon Philips but Hamels eventually outlasted him after a long at bat. Later in the 4th Cincinnati loaded the bases with nobody out but again Hamels got out of it with a fielder's choice and a double play and the Reds were left to ponder what might have been.
Meanwhile the Phils had their own scoring troubles, as Jimmy Rollins ripped an RBI single the other way with 2 out in the 3rd inning to score Carlos Ruiz with the Phils only run of the afternoon. Ultimately it would be just enough for victory. Jose Contreras replaced Hamels in the 8th and pitched into and out of a jam. Then in the 9th J.C Romero and Brad Lidge combined for a scoreless and flawless inning to finish off the 1-0 win and the sweep. With that the Reds head into the all-star break having suffered 21 consecutive innings without scoring a run, while the Phils head into break on their 1st 4 game win streak in some time and perhaps turning a big corner in an otherwise tough season. At 47-40 overall and now just 4.5 games back in the NL East they're at least in decent shape heading into the break and still very much in the running for their 4th straight division title and more.
Meanwhile the Phils had their own scoring troubles, as Jimmy Rollins ripped an RBI single the other way with 2 out in the 3rd inning to score Carlos Ruiz with the Phils only run of the afternoon. Ultimately it would be just enough for victory. Jose Contreras replaced Hamels in the 8th and pitched into and out of a jam. Then in the 9th J.C Romero and Brad Lidge combined for a scoreless and flawless inning to finish off the 1-0 win and the sweep. With that the Reds head into the all-star break having suffered 21 consecutive innings without scoring a run, while the Phils head into break on their 1st 4 game win streak in some time and perhaps turning a big corner in an otherwise tough season. At 47-40 overall and now just 4.5 games back in the NL East they're at least in decent shape heading into the break and still very much in the running for their 4th straight division title and more.
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