Ryan Howard finally returned from the DL tonight, while Ross Gload was placed on the DL to make room for him. In his first at bat Howard singled and later he grounded into a fielder's choice to plate the Phils only run of the night. Unfortunately those were the Phils only bright spots on the night as they were otherwise shut down by wunderkind Stephen Strasburg through 5. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick had an off night allowing 5 runs on 9 hits in just 5 and 2/3rd's innings. So the Phils trailed 5-1 through 5 and they never really recovered.
J.C Romero and Jose Contreras did combine for 2 and a 1/3rd scoreless innings in relief to at least keep the Phils in it but they couldn't take advantage of their scoring opportunities the rest of the way. With runners on the corners and only one out in the 6th Chase Utley popped out and Howard struck out. Later in the 9th, right after he had hit a 3 run homer to make it 8-1 Nats, Roger Bernardina robbed Howard of an extra base hit and an RBI. Jayson Werth followed a couple batters later with a more conventional fly out and Phils fell by a somewhat embarrassing score of 8-1. As luck would have it the Braves and the Giants lost today as well so the Phils remain 1 game up in the wild card race and 2.5 back in the NL East.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles lost their preseason matchup to the Bengals tonight, 22-9. Once again the 1st string defense looked pretty good. Joselio Hanson did get beat by Terrell Owens for a 40 yard reception, that led to the only score for Cincinnati's starters. Other than that the D was solid, intercepting Carson Palmer twice, and holding the Bengals' running game to just 3.4 yards per carry. The 2nd and 3rd string defense's were at least better than last week with not as many breakdowns and several positive performances. Trevor Lindley and Daniel Teo' Nesheim were both solid again with a pair of tackles, Brandon Graham had a sack, and Keenan Clayton had an interception.
Offensively, Kevin Kolb looked pretty good again, completing 11 of 17 passes for 126 yards but again he couldn't get the 1st team offense into end zone, settling for 2 field goals. It wasn't totally Kolb's fault they didn't get in the zone with team committing 5 penalties and Jeremy Maclin twice fumbling the ball away before leaving the game with a minor shoulder surgery. The backup offenses weren't much better, combining for just 1field goal and lots of penalties and turnovers in the 2nd half. Both Mike Vick and Mike Kafka were intercepted twice and Vick was sacked several times. At least it's only the preseason.
Offensively, Kevin Kolb looked pretty good again, completing 11 of 17 passes for 126 yards but again he couldn't get the 1st team offense into end zone, settling for 2 field goals. It wasn't totally Kolb's fault they didn't get in the zone with team committing 5 penalties and Jeremy Maclin twice fumbling the ball away before leaving the game with a minor shoulder surgery. The backup offenses weren't much better, combining for just 1field goal and lots of penalties and turnovers in the 2nd half. Both Mike Vick and Mike Kafka were intercepted twice and Vick was sacked several times. At least it's only the preseason.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils welcomed the Nationals to the Bank tonight to begin a weekend series. Roy Halladay got the start and though not at his best, still managed to tough out 7 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, the Phils continued their offensive struggle from the last night with Raul Ibanez's RBI double in the 3rd the game's only run through 7. That was despite the fact that Nat's starter Jason Marquis lasted only 5 innings. Joel Peralta and Doug Slaten simply proved to be tough for the Phils handle, as they combined for 3 scoreless innings in relief.
So it would be up to the Phils bullpen to lock this one down. In the 8th Ryan Madson allowed a leadoff single to Roger Bernardina and then watched as he moved to 2nd on a fielder's choice. From there though he managed to retire the side and strand Bernardina, setting the stage for Brad Lidge in the 9th. There, After 2 quick outs Ian Desmond crushed a hanging slider from Lidge but fortunately it stayed on a straight line all the way and hit off the top of the wall in left, instead of going out. Given new life, Lidge went ahead and struck out Adam Dunn to end it. It's the 4th 1-0 win for the Phils this year, and 3rd for Roy Halladay(Cole Hamels has the other) and it moves the Fightins to 69-52 overall. That's still 1 game up in the wild card and 2.5 back in the division.
So it would be up to the Phils bullpen to lock this one down. In the 8th Ryan Madson allowed a leadoff single to Roger Bernardina and then watched as he moved to 2nd on a fielder's choice. From there though he managed to retire the side and strand Bernardina, setting the stage for Brad Lidge in the 9th. There, After 2 quick outs Ian Desmond crushed a hanging slider from Lidge but fortunately it stayed on a straight line all the way and hit off the top of the wall in left, instead of going out. Given new life, Lidge went ahead and struck out Adam Dunn to end it. It's the 4th 1-0 win for the Phils this year, and 3rd for Roy Halladay(Cole Hamels has the other) and it moves the Fightins to 69-52 overall. That's still 1 game up in the wild card and 2.5 back in the division.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils went for the sweep of the Giants tonight but it wasn't to be. Cole Hamels just didn't have his best stuff, allowing 3 runs in the first inning, and 5 overall in just 5 innings of work before Charlie Manuel had seen enough. Meanwhile, the Phils as usual did not score for him, as Jonathan Sanchez shut them down with 8 scoreless innings on just 1 hit, while striking out 7. For whatever reason they just had bad swings against Sanchez all night long and weren't able to make the necessary adjustments. Sanchez has good stuff and can be very tough when he's on and he was on tonight, at least for 8 innings.
In the 9th Sanchez allowed a leadoff single to Shane Victorino and was close to walking Placido Polanco to put 2 on and nobody out. However, Bruce Bochy decided at that moment not to take any chances, even with a 5-0 lead, as he removed Sanchez in favor of Sergio Romo. Romo successfully retired 2 batters before serving up a 2 run double to Mike Sweeney, the Phils only runs of the night, to cut it to 5-2. Unfortunately the Phils never got any closer with Brian Wilson coming in to get Raul Ibanez to pop up for the final out. So there was no sweep, but the Phils at 68-52 overall, remain 1 game on everybody else in the wild card race and our 2.5 gmes out in the NL East. Go figure.
In the 9th Sanchez allowed a leadoff single to Shane Victorino and was close to walking Placido Polanco to put 2 on and nobody out. However, Bruce Bochy decided at that moment not to take any chances, even with a 5-0 lead, as he removed Sanchez in favor of Sergio Romo. Romo successfully retired 2 batters before serving up a 2 run double to Mike Sweeney, the Phils only runs of the night, to cut it to 5-2. Unfortunately the Phils never got any closer with Brian Wilson coming in to get Raul Ibanez to pop up for the final out. So there was no sweep, but the Phils at 68-52 overall, remain 1 game on everybody else in the wild card race and our 2.5 gmes out in the NL East. Go figure.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils just kept on rolling, that is JRolling, tonight. Joe Blanton got the start and was solid, allowing just 2 runs on 8 hits while striking out 7 in 6 and 1/3rd innings. With my Matt Cain on the mound for the Giants that performance by Blanton might not sound like it was enough, but it was and then some, thanks in large part to Jimmy Rollins. Rollins came within a double of hitting for the cycle and was responsible for 4 of the Phils 5 runs off Cain. He tripled and scored on a fielder's choice in the 3rd. Then in the 4th he slammed a 3 run homer, his first since that walkoff bomb in July, and before you knew it was 5-1 Phils and Cain didn't know what hit him.
The Phils were done just yet though. After surviving a scare in the top of 7th, with a clutch inning ending double play, the Phils tacked on in the home half of the inning. With 2 out Chase Utley doubled, Raul Ibanez tripled ,and Jayson Werth doubled for 2 runs and a 7-2 lead. Then in the 8th with 2 out Dominic Brown crushed a 450 ft homer to the 3rd deck in right to give the Phils an 8-2 lead and turn the lights out on San Francisco. Jose Contreras retired the side in order in the 9th and the Phils, now at 68-51 overall had themselves 2 game lead in the wild card race. Unfortunately the Braves won again and remain 2.5 games ahead of the Phils in the NL East.
The Phils were done just yet though. After surviving a scare in the top of 7th, with a clutch inning ending double play, the Phils tacked on in the home half of the inning. With 2 out Chase Utley doubled, Raul Ibanez tripled ,and Jayson Werth doubled for 2 runs and a 7-2 lead. Then in the 8th with 2 out Dominic Brown crushed a 450 ft homer to the 3rd deck in right to give the Phils an 8-2 lead and turn the lights out on San Francisco. Jose Contreras retired the side in order in the 9th and the Phils, now at 68-51 overall had themselves 2 game lead in the wild card race. Unfortunately the Braves won again and remain 2.5 games ahead of the Phils in the NL East.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles have completed training camp. They next play Friday night against the Cincinnati Bengals which should be an interesting reunion between the Eagles and Terrell Owens. As usual in that game the starters will play the first half. So it will be Kevin Kolb's first extended game time as the official #1 QB for the Birds. Should be interesting to watch at least for a half.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
In the first game of their showdown for wild card supremacy Roy Oswalt and Phils trumped Barry Zito and the Giants. In the first inning Pat Burrell crushed a 2 run homer off his old team, but from there Oswalt settled down, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits over the next 6 innings while striking out 7. Meanwhile, a 2 run single by Jimmy Rollins in the 5th and a 2 run double by Shane Victorino in the 6th put the Phils up 4-2 through 6 and then 4-3 through 7. After that Ryan Madson got another scare in the top of the 8th , with a runner on 2nd and 2 out, but he managed to get out of it while preserving the 4-3 lead.
From there just as it seemed certain Brad Lidge would have to come out for another save, San Francisco imploded in the home half of the 8th. The Phils quickly loaded the bases to start the inning before Carlos doubled for 2 more runs. Later with one out JRoll singled in a 3rd run. Then pitcher Ramon Ramirez committed a balk, allowing a 4th run to score in the inning. Finally he got Chase Utley(yes he's back from the DL) to slap a screaming groundout that Mike Fontenot couldn't handle and then threw it away to allow a 5th run to score in the inning. Finally after that Placido Polanco flied out and Chase Utley was thrown out trying to tag up to end the inning with the Phils up 9-3. Fortunatey, Chad Durbin followed with a scoreless 9th to close out the 9-3 win and the Phils new 1 game wi,ldcard lead. Not a bad place to be as they continue to get healthier.
From there just as it seemed certain Brad Lidge would have to come out for another save, San Francisco imploded in the home half of the 8th. The Phils quickly loaded the bases to start the inning before Carlos doubled for 2 more runs. Later with one out JRoll singled in a 3rd run. Then pitcher Ramon Ramirez committed a balk, allowing a 4th run to score in the inning. Finally he got Chase Utley(yes he's back from the DL) to slap a screaming groundout that Mike Fontenot couldn't handle and then threw it away to allow a 5th run to score in the inning. Finally after that Placido Polanco flied out and Chase Utley was thrown out trying to tag up to end the inning with the Phils up 9-3. Fortunatey, Chad Durbin followed with a scoreless 9th to close out the 9-3 win and the Phils new 1 game wi,ldcard lead. Not a bad place to be as they continue to get healthier.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
On a wet rainy night in New York at cavernous Citi Field pitching and speed keyed the Phils attack. Kyle Kendrick provided most of the pitching with a stellar 6 and 2/3rd's innings in which he allowed just 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 4 and walking only 1. The 1 batter he walked also happened to be the last batter he faced in the 7th inning before exiting the contest in favor of Chad Durbin. By then the speed provided by Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino had given the Phils a 3 -1 lead. First in the 3rd inning, JRoll singled, stole second and 3rd and then scored on a double by Victorino. Next in the 5th Victorino singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Placido Polanco.
Although Jayson Werth would later leg out triple and a 3rd run in the 6th, those 2 runs would be all the Phils needed. Durbin faced just one batter in the 7th, Jeff Francoeur, who crushed a ball to center field that would have tied the game anywhere else, instead in the caverns at Citi Victorino was able to run under and catch it to end the 7th. In the 8th Ryan Madson walked David Wright with 2 out but followed with a strikeout of Carlos Beltran to end the 8th. Finally in the 9th Brad Lidge retired the side in order for his 16th save and the 3-1 Phils win. With the win the Phils remain 2 games out in the NL East and move into a tie for 1st place in the wild card race with the San Francisco Giants who come to town on Tuesday. It should be a great series.
Although Jayson Werth would later leg out triple and a 3rd run in the 6th, those 2 runs would be all the Phils needed. Durbin faced just one batter in the 7th, Jeff Francoeur, who crushed a ball to center field that would have tied the game anywhere else, instead in the caverns at Citi Victorino was able to run under and catch it to end the 7th. In the 8th Ryan Madson walked David Wright with 2 out but followed with a strikeout of Carlos Beltran to end the 8th. Finally in the 9th Brad Lidge retired the side in order for his 16th save and the 3-1 Phils win. With the win the Phils remain 2 games out in the NL East and move into a tie for 1st place in the wild card race with the San Francisco Giants who come to town on Tuesday. It should be a great series.
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