After yet another disappointing showing from his team last night, Charlie Manuel decided to shake things up as the Phils began a series with the Florida Marlins tonight. He gave Jayson Werth another night off and put Ben Francisco in right field and in the number 5 spot in order, in his place. The moved turned out to be serendipitous as Francisco collected 2 hits, knocked in 2 runs, scored 2 runs and proved to be a key player on the night. He was not alone in his offensive prowess though. In fact Carlos Ruiz proved to be the Phils only starter who could not hit safely in the game as they exploded for 10 runs on 13 hits. The way the Phils bats had been going lately it fell like more of a volcanci eruption than just a mere explosion and despite it all the Phils almost lost.
3 time the Phils fell behind in this and 3 times they rallied back before victory was assured. Kyle Kendrick was tagged early and often from the onset, allowing 6 runs on 6 hits in just 5 innings of work. By the end of the Marlins half of the 3rd inning it was already 4-0 and things did not look good. Then in the bottom of the 3rd, Ryan Howard crushed a 2 run homer and Francisco manufactured a run with a single and stolen base followed a Raul Ibanez RBI single to cut it to 4-3. Florida quickly pushed it back to 6-3 in the 4th inning, but Shane Victorino answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the 4th to cut it to 6-4. Then in the 5th an error, an infield single by Ibanez, and a fielder's choice allowed the Phils to bleed out 2 more runs to pull even at 6. One inning later a sac fly by Chase Utley made it 7-6 Phils, their first lead of the night. It didn't last long as Florida rallied for runs in the 7th and 8th to push back out to an 8-7 lead. Finally the Phils engineered one final rally in the bottom of the 8th. Francisco slapped a clutch 2 out 2 run single and then scored on a infield singly by Wilson Valdez to put the Phils up seemingly for good at 10-8
However, Florida also put togethet a final rally against Brad Lidge but he was up for the test. After allowing a leadoff single to Hanley Ramirez, He struck out Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla. Then pitched around Cody Ross to put 2 on with 2 out for rookie Mike Stanton. Having never seen Lidge before Stanton was as an easy mark after 3 pitches he grounded into a game ending forceout at 2nd except Wilson Valdez forgot to put his foot on the bag, allowing Cody Ross to slide in safely and load the bases for ex-Phil Ronnie Paulino. After a few more pitches Lidge got Paulino to harmlessly pop out and the Phils had their 10-8 win. Hopefully they can build off this and get back to scoring runs like we know they can. Until here's hoping for another perfecto from Roy tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
It's been less than a month since Roy Halladay's perfect night in South Florida but that didn't stop Cole Hamels from bidding to match him tonight. For 6 and 1/3rd innings he kept San Diego in check, with no runs or hits, dazzling them with his full array of pitches, cutter, fastball, curveball, and changeup. Just like Florida against Halladay San Diego' hitters often appeared in this one as if they didn't know what was coming next. That is, Until Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Hairston clipped back to back homers. Still Cole got out of the 7th without further damage and finished off the 8th so there was no reason the 2 homers would be enough to win right?
Wrong. The Phils again struggled to score, wasting most of their opportunities. They really didn't have all that many chances with just 7 hits all night long. So when the dust cleared after 9, despite 8 brilliant innings while allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits and striking out 6 Hamels ended up as the loser on the night. He really didn't everything he could though and shouldn't be blamed for this loss. Danys Baez wasn't quite so sharp coming out of the bullpen as he allowed a 1 run on 2 hits to stretch the San Diego lead to 3-0. Finally in the bottom of the 9th the Phils got on the board with a Ryan Howard RBI double but it was too little too late as one batter later Jayson Werth struck out to end the 3-1 Padre win. It seemed Like the Phils were finally coming out of it with their performances that last couple days but clearly there's still some work to do
Wrong. The Phils again struggled to score, wasting most of their opportunities. They really didn't have all that many chances with just 7 hits all night long. So when the dust cleared after 9, despite 8 brilliant innings while allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits and striking out 6 Hamels ended up as the loser on the night. He really didn't everything he could though and shouldn't be blamed for this loss. Danys Baez wasn't quite so sharp coming out of the bullpen as he allowed a 1 run on 2 hits to stretch the San Diego lead to 3-0. Finally in the bottom of the 9th the Phils got on the board with a Ryan Howard RBI double but it was too little too late as one batter later Jayson Werth struck out to end the 3-1 Padre win. It seemed Like the Phils were finally coming out of it with their performances that last couple days but clearly there's still some work to do
Sunday, June 06, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
Coming into tonight the Flyers were unbeaten in game 5s in the year's NHL playoffs. Not anymore after a stirring effort by the Chicago Blackhawks this one. Chicago just came out surging right from the beginning and the Flyers couldn't stay with them. They tried their hardest, I mean it's not as if they played all that poorly, Chicago was just too good in this one. Somehow the Flyers managed to withstand the early Chicago surge for 12 minutes before the Hawks finally got on the board and floodgates opened after that. By the time the 1st period was over Chicago led 3-0 and was well on their way to victory. To their credit the Flyers didn't give up though. Scott Hartnell scored only about 30 seconds into the 2nd period to cut it to 3-1. Then after Chicago made it 4-1 the Flyers answered back to cut it to 4-2.
Unfortunately Chris Pronger took a rare penalty near the end of the period and thus was not on the ice when Dustin Byfuglien finally scored his first goal of the series to make it 5-2. Still to the annoyance of Chicago the Flyers didn't give up as James Van Reimsdyk scored his 1st goal of the series to cut it to 5-3. The Orange and Black then had a chance on the power play after that to cut it to 5-4 but they couldn' t take advantage and Patrick followed not along after with breakaway goal to make it 6-3. The Flyers put together one last surge though as Ville Leino beautifully set up Simon Gagne to cut it to 6-4. Then with 2 and a half minutes to go the Flyers pulled Brian Boucher(he replaced Micheal Leighton after the 1st period) in favor of the extra attacker. Unfortunately it seemed they were just a little too spent to stage anymore heroics as Byfuglien managed to get the puck away and fire it down the ice and into the empty net to clinch a 7-4 win.
On the whole the game was a complete reversal of the rest of the series with Chicago having and the edge on special teams and a slight edge defensively. This Chicago tonight is the Chicago that was supposed to be here all series long and you just have to tip your cap to them after this performance. Still, if you take away the 1st period the Flyers played the Hawks to a draw the rest of the way. That tells me there is a very good chance that they'll win game 6 and force the series back to Chicago one more time for game 7 and who knows what happens after that.
Unfortunately Chris Pronger took a rare penalty near the end of the period and thus was not on the ice when Dustin Byfuglien finally scored his first goal of the series to make it 5-2. Still to the annoyance of Chicago the Flyers didn't give up as James Van Reimsdyk scored his 1st goal of the series to cut it to 5-3. The Orange and Black then had a chance on the power play after that to cut it to 5-4 but they couldn' t take advantage and Patrick followed not along after with breakaway goal to make it 6-3. The Flyers put together one last surge though as Ville Leino beautifully set up Simon Gagne to cut it to 6-4. Then with 2 and a half minutes to go the Flyers pulled Brian Boucher(he replaced Micheal Leighton after the 1st period) in favor of the extra attacker. Unfortunately it seemed they were just a little too spent to stage anymore heroics as Byfuglien managed to get the puck away and fire it down the ice and into the empty net to clinch a 7-4 win.
On the whole the game was a complete reversal of the rest of the series with Chicago having and the edge on special teams and a slight edge defensively. This Chicago tonight is the Chicago that was supposed to be here all series long and you just have to tip your cap to them after this performance. Still, if you take away the 1st period the Flyers played the Hawks to a draw the rest of the way. That tells me there is a very good chance that they'll win game 6 and force the series back to Chicago one more time for game 7 and who knows what happens after that.
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils took the field this afternoon looking to complete the series win over the Padres. They got off to another quick start with 5 runs in the first 2 innings. In the 1st, Shane Victorino singled to lead off, stole 2nd, and scored on back to back fielder's choices. In the 2nd, Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard each slapped 2 out 2 run singles to produce the Phils 2nd 4 run inning in as many nights. That's not bad for a team whose lineup is supposedly struggling mightily. Unfortunately Joe Blanton couldn't hold the Phils early lead and by the 5th San Diego had rallied to tie it at 5. Meanwhile the Phils squandered all their opportunities to score after the 2nd inning, leaving a total of 15 men on base.
So after Blanton exited following the 5th, all the pressure in the world shifted onto the bullpen to keep the game tied until the Phils could come up with another run. For 4 innings they did just that, with Chad Durbin, J.C Romero, Jose Contreras, and Chad Durbin combining to do the deed. After the Phils blew a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the 9th, stranding the winning run at 3rd, Danys Baez came in to pitch the 10th. He was as lucky as aforementioned allowing a 2 out run on an infield single that was just deep enough to short that Wilson Valdez couldn't do anything with it. The Phils then had another golden opportunity in the bottom of the 10th to rally back and perhaps win it, but Polanco was thrown out trying to go to 3rd on a single by Chase Utley and then with runners on the corners and 2 out, Jayson Werth struck out to end the Phils day. So they didn't get the sweep but they did win series and with 5+ runs for the 2nd game in a row they seem to be coming out of there slump. Things can only get better from here.
So after Blanton exited following the 5th, all the pressure in the world shifted onto the bullpen to keep the game tied until the Phils could come up with another run. For 4 innings they did just that, with Chad Durbin, J.C Romero, Jose Contreras, and Chad Durbin combining to do the deed. After the Phils blew a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the 9th, stranding the winning run at 3rd, Danys Baez came in to pitch the 10th. He was as lucky as aforementioned allowing a 2 out run on an infield single that was just deep enough to short that Wilson Valdez couldn't do anything with it. The Phils then had another golden opportunity in the bottom of the 10th to rally back and perhaps win it, but Polanco was thrown out trying to go to 3rd on a single by Chase Utley and then with runners on the corners and 2 out, Jayson Werth struck out to end the Phils day. So they didn't get the sweep but they did win series and with 5+ runs for the 2nd game in a row they seem to be coming out of there slump. Things can only get better from here.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
PHILLIES NEWS
6, that's how many runs the Phils put up tonight along with 10 hits, but it fell like a lot more. After a long streak of games in which they couldn't score any more than 3 runs, to put up 6 in this one was special and a hopefully a signal that the team is headed out of there slump at last. Just like last though they didn't have to score that many runs. The 4 they scored in the 3rd inning alone would have been enough as ,the ageless one, Jamie Moyer tossed his 2nd complete game of the season on just 98 pitches. All told he allowed just 2 runs on 7 hits to lower his ERA to 3.98. It's first time his ERA has been that low in couple years, and yet thanks to the Phils struggles at the plate he's only 6-5 overall.
Fortunately the Fightins seemed to come out of their perpetual haze tonight. It started in the 4th with 4 consecutive hits to the begin the inning, singles by Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley and a double by Ryan Howard, producing 3 runs. Raul Ibanez later added a sac fly for a 4th run before Carlos Ruiz lined out to end the inning. In the 5th Jayson Werth kept it going with a 2 run homer, on a ball he didn't hit very hard but that just kept carrying until it was in first row in right. Basically it was your classic cheap Citizens Bank homerun, but the Phils will take it. Moyer quickly mowed the Padres from there to close out the important 6-2 win, the Phils 30th of the season. With the Atlanta idle tonight it was enough to move the Phils back to within 2 games of 1st in the NL East. Here's hoping is only the beginning of something big.
Fortunately the Fightins seemed to come out of their perpetual haze tonight. It started in the 4th with 4 consecutive hits to the begin the inning, singles by Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley and a double by Ryan Howard, producing 3 runs. Raul Ibanez later added a sac fly for a 4th run before Carlos Ruiz lined out to end the inning. In the 5th Jayson Werth kept it going with a 2 run homer, on a ball he didn't hit very hard but that just kept carrying until it was in first row in right. Basically it was your classic cheap Citizens Bank homerun, but the Phils will take it. Moyer quickly mowed the Padres from there to close out the important 6-2 win, the Phils 30th of the season. With the Atlanta idle tonight it was enough to move the Phils back to within 2 games of 1st in the NL East. Here's hoping is only the beginning of something big.
Friday, June 04, 2010
FLYERS NEWS
Despite all the heroics in game 3 the Flyers still needed a win tonight to firmly establish themselves as back in the series . Just like in game 3 they got off to a quick start in this one but this time there was no surge back from Chicago, it was all Orange and Black. Just about a minute and half into the contest the Flyers found themselves on the power play and took advantage with Mike Richards scoring a brilliant backhand for a quick 1-0 lead. It was 10 minutes before the Orange and Black got another shot on goal and again as Matt Carle slipped in front of the net undetected and slapped one by Anti Niemi for a 2-0 lead. 4 minutes later Patrick Sharp briefly shifted the momentum to Chicago slapping one by Micheal Leighton off a deflection to cut the lead to 2-1.
Just a minute the Hawks completely lost sight of Claude Giroux as he moved next to the net and behind a clueless Niemi. Kimmo Timonen did keep Giroux and fired a beautiful pass to him which he deposited into the back of the net for a 3-1 and crushing finish to the period for Chicago. Both defenses tightened up in the 2nd period and neither team was able to score. the Defense remained tight early in the 3rd period before Ville Leino made a couple beautiful moves past the Chicago defense and fired a shot off Niemi and into the net for a 4-1 lead. After that the defense of the Orange and Black clamped appeared to take control and the Flyers cruised towards an inevitable victory.
Then the Flyers were quickly penalized twice within a minute of each other with Scott Hartnell called for unsportsmanlike conduct for yelling from the bench and Braydon Coburn called for a weak holding penalty give Chicago a 5 on 3. Dave Bolland scored for Chicago on the first power play and as quick as you can bat an eyelash the momentum shifted in the Hawk's favor. The Flyers killed of the 2nd penalty but only a couple minutes after that Brian Campbell pushed one by Leighton in a scrum and suddenly it was 4-3. Chicago desperately continued to surge after that in search of the tying goal but Leighton made a couple spectacular saves and Coburn, after losing his stick, batted away another scoring chance with his skate. Finally the Hawks were forced to pull Niemi in favor of the extra attacker in the final minute but before they could really get anything else going in the Flyer's zone Sharp lost the puck at the blueline, allowing Jeff Carter to glide back to the empty net and score, at last securing a 5-3 victory. So the series is now tied at 2 and best of 3. May the best team win.
Just a minute the Hawks completely lost sight of Claude Giroux as he moved next to the net and behind a clueless Niemi. Kimmo Timonen did keep Giroux and fired a beautiful pass to him which he deposited into the back of the net for a 3-1 and crushing finish to the period for Chicago. Both defenses tightened up in the 2nd period and neither team was able to score. the Defense remained tight early in the 3rd period before Ville Leino made a couple beautiful moves past the Chicago defense and fired a shot off Niemi and into the net for a 4-1 lead. After that the defense of the Orange and Black clamped appeared to take control and the Flyers cruised towards an inevitable victory.
Then the Flyers were quickly penalized twice within a minute of each other with Scott Hartnell called for unsportsmanlike conduct for yelling from the bench and Braydon Coburn called for a weak holding penalty give Chicago a 5 on 3. Dave Bolland scored for Chicago on the first power play and as quick as you can bat an eyelash the momentum shifted in the Hawk's favor. The Flyers killed of the 2nd penalty but only a couple minutes after that Brian Campbell pushed one by Leighton in a scrum and suddenly it was 4-3. Chicago desperately continued to surge after that in search of the tying goal but Leighton made a couple spectacular saves and Coburn, after losing his stick, batted away another scoring chance with his skate. Finally the Hawks were forced to pull Niemi in favor of the extra attacker in the final minute but before they could really get anything else going in the Flyer's zone Sharp lost the puck at the blueline, allowing Jeff Carter to glide back to the empty net and score, at last securing a 5-3 victory. So the series is now tied at 2 and best of 3. May the best team win.
PHILLIES NEWS
Having lost 4 in a row coming in the Phils needed something, anything to be positive about night. Fortunately it was Roy Halladay's turn to take the mound and he did not disappoint. No he wasn't perfect again but pretty close to it. In 7 strong innings he allowed just 2 runs on 7 hits while striking out 7. Just like Florida the Padres could never really figure Roy out. Despite Halladay's mastery he nearly took a no decision before a bases loaded walk by Jayson Werth in the 5th gave the Phils a 3-2 lead. Before that Halladay himself started the Phils only rally singling in front of a homer by Shane Victorino.
After that Halladay was almost reduced to a no decision again before J.C Romero got out of a bases loaded jam in the 8th by forcing Chris Denorfia into a double play. From there it was up to Brad Lidge to close things out in the 9th and boy did he. He got David Eckstein to ground out. Then he struck out the great Adrian Gonzalez with a well placed fastball on the outside the corner. Finally he got Chase Headley to chase a couple nasty sliders for strikeout number 2 and out number 3. Just like that the losing streak was over and perhaps now the Phils will begin to come out of the slump. If nothing else it seems like after quite a bit of rehab and a lot false starts Brad Lidge is out of his funk. He really looked like the Lidge of 2008 out there and if that's case the Phils are going to be okay. No matter how many runs they score, if they can just get leads late in games from here on out they should be able to close them out.
After that Halladay was almost reduced to a no decision again before J.C Romero got out of a bases loaded jam in the 8th by forcing Chris Denorfia into a double play. From there it was up to Brad Lidge to close things out in the 9th and boy did he. He got David Eckstein to ground out. Then he struck out the great Adrian Gonzalez with a well placed fastball on the outside the corner. Finally he got Chase Headley to chase a couple nasty sliders for strikeout number 2 and out number 3. Just like that the losing streak was over and perhaps now the Phils will begin to come out of the slump. If nothing else it seems like after quite a bit of rehab and a lot false starts Brad Lidge is out of his funk. He really looked like the Lidge of 2008 out there and if that's case the Phils are going to be okay. No matter how many runs they score, if they can just get leads late in games from here on out they should be able to close them out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)