The Phils continued their series with the Mets this afternoon. Jamie Moyer got another start in place of J.A Happ and after a rough 1st inning, he did his job allowing just 5 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings. Meanwhile, the Phils pounded out 9 runs on 12 hits in that same time frame. Pedro Feliz hit a 2 run homer in the 2nd inning, Chase Utley slammed a solo homer, and Raul Ibanez slugged a 2 run homer in the 3rd inning, Jimmy Rollins slapped an RBI single in the 4th inning, Carlos Ruiz singled in a run, and JRoll Tripled in another run in the 6th inning, and Raul Ibanez lined an RBI single in the 7th inning. Thus, Jamie left after the 7th inning with a 9-5 lead and the Phils seemingly headed to victory, but the bullpen still had to close things out. Unfortunately, on this night they could not. Brett Myers was touched up for 3 runs on 5 hits in the 8th inning, to cut the lead to 9-8 heading into the 9th. There Ryan Madson could not put away another save. Madson got 2 quick outs in the inning with no harm done, but before he could get the 3rd out David Wright had slammed a 2 run homer to put New York ahead 10-9. Madson managed to keep the Mets from doing any further damage from there, but the damage had already been done. The Phils could not mount a comeback in the bottom of the inning, going down in order to finish off another late inning loss. There was plenty to like on this night. Several of the Phils 12 hits on the night generated 2 out RBIs, and produced their best hitting night in a quite some time. Also Moyer toughed out 7 strong innings, which is a good sign considering the Phils may need him quite a few more times during the remainder of the season. In the end though it all came down to the bullpen at the end of the game and they just didn't get the job done. I am not sure what the Phils can really do about it right now. They're just going to have to ride it out and hope it doesn't ruin the season. Anyway so the Phils drop to 80-60 overall now and back down to just 5 games up in the NL East.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils returned to the Bank tonight to begin a series with the Mets. On a wet and dreary night Cole Hamels got the start and toughed out the conditions for 6 and 2/3rd innings, allowing just 1 run on 1 hit while striking out 6. Meanwhile the scrappy Phils touched up Nelson Figueroa for 2 runs on 9 hits,including RBI singles by Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Feliz, in just 5 and 1/3rd innings. Later Carlos Ruiz, with a sac fly in the 7th inning and Chase Utley, with an RBI double in the 8th, each added on to the Phils lead through 8. Brett Myers came in and tossed up another perfect 8th inning to preserve the lead into the 9th inning. Finally, Ryan Madson came in to get the save in the 9th inning. He almost didn't, allowing a run to score and runners on the corners with nobody out, but fortuntely Jimmy Rollins turned a double play at that point to get Madson back on track. Then Madson finished off the Phils 4-2 win by inducing another groundout. Brett Myers has looked surprisingly good since he returned to the Phils earlier this month. He could be a key member of the team down the stretch. After another solid save Ryan Madson seems to be firmly entrenched as the Phils closer for now. The Phils continued to struggle to score runners on this night, stranding 13 of them. They just can't afford to keep doing that every game and expect to waltz into the playoffs. So anyway the Phils move to 80-59 overall now and still 6 games up in the NL East.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils completed their series with the Nationals tonight, looking for the sweep. Joe Blanton got the start and for the first time in a while he really didn't pitch that well, allowing 8 runs on 7 hits in just 4 and 2/3rd's innings. The Phils meanwhile, managed just 2 runs on 6 hits in 7 and 2/3rd's innings against old nemesis Livan Hernandez. Thus, despite a triple by Chase Utley and a sac fly by Ryan Howard in the top of the 1st inning, the Phils found themselves in an 8-2 hole most of the night. The Bullpen again was impressive and would not allow Washington to stretch their lead any further, as Tyler Walker, Chad Durbin, and Brad Lidge, pitched scoreless frames in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings. Still, the Phils trailed 8-2 heading into the 9th inning and things looked pretty grim. They did not go away quietly though. They loaded the bases with 1 out and then Matt Stairs, 0 for his last 30, finally got off the schnide with a grand slam to quickly cut the lead to 8-6. A couple batters later "the Flyin Hawaiian", Shane Victorino slapped an RBI double and suddenly it was down to 8-7. Next Utley singled to move the tying run to 3rd for Ryan Howard. Unfortunately, Howard could only ground into a game ending double play to ruin the comeback bid. At any rate the Phils still win the series which is a positive at least. The negative is Blanton. What happened to him tonight? He's been so consistently good for so long that it was shocking to see him pitch so poorly. Hopefully this will only be a one night thing for him. So anyway the Phils drop to 79-59 overall now, and lead the NL East by just 5 games.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued their series with the Nationals tonight. Cliff Lee got the start and returned to some semblance of what he had been before his last 2 starts, allowing just 5 runs on 10 hits in 7 nice innings. Meanwhile, the Phils scattered 6 runs over the first 8 innings for a 6-5 lead. In the top of the 2nd, Jayson Werth and Lee himself singled in runs and a fielder's choice produced a 3rd run. In the top of the 5th Ibanez slapped an RBI double for run number 4. Finally in the top of the 8th Werth and Pedro Feliz slammed back to back homers to push the Phils ahead seemingly for good 6-4. Chan Ho Park got through the bottom of the 8th with the lead still intact barely, at 6-5. This time Ryan Madson came in for the save in the 9th inning and got the job done again with a strikeout and a double play. So from a 4 game losing streak the Phils have won 2 in a row just like that. It really does look like Raul Ibanez is back in fine form with 2 hits and an RBI tonight. It does seem as though Ryan Madson is ready to take over as the Phils closer finally. However, Charlie Manuel says Madson will only share closing duties with Brad Lidge at this point so we'll see. At any rate you just have to hope the Phils can keep this going as they move to 79-58 overall now and remain 6 games up in the NL East.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils traveled to Washington tonight to begin a series with the lowly Nationals, the perfect team against which to end their current 4 game losing streak. However, the Nationals fought hard as usual and that expected end to the losing streak almost had to wait a night. Pedro Martinez got the start and performed admirably, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 6 and 2/3rd's innings. Meanwhile, the Phils crushed 5 homers, 4 of them off Washington's starter John Lannan. First Raul Ibanez slugged a solo homer in the top of the 5th inning. Next Jayson Werth slammed a solo homer, Ibanez smashed his 2nd, and Carlos Ruiz destroyed a solo homer, in the top of the 7th. Finally in the top of the 8th Chase Utley tomahawked a solo homer into the upper deck to put the Phils ahead 5-3. Brett Myers again pitched a scoreless 8th inning and then in came Brad Lidge to get the save. Lidge got 1 out and then loaded the bases. That was enough for Charlie Manuel who promptly pulled Lidge from the game in favor of Ryan Madson. Madson thankfully struck out Ryan Zimmerman and got Adam Dunn to ground out from there to preserve the 5-3 win. Now does this mean Madson will be the closer now? According to Charlie Manuel it does not. At least not yet anyway. I guess we'll see. With his 2 homers tonight Ibanez now has 30 on the season, as does Chase Utley now with his homer tonight. That gives the Phils 3 lefthanded hitters with 30 homers(Ryan Howard is the other), making them the first team to put together such a roster of sluggers in quite some time. With Jayson Werth at 32 homers now the Phils also have 4 hitters with 30 homers for the 1st time in their history. The last team to have 4 hitters with 30 homers or more was the White Sox in 2006. So the Phils made some good history tonight and you just have to hope they continue to play well like this and take care of the Nationals. Anyway so the Phils now move to 78-58 overall and remain 6 games up in the NL East.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles made another interesting move today releasing TE Tony Curtis and acquiring free agent TE Alex Smith, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So it will be Smith who backs up Brent Celek this season and not Curtis. The Buccaneers played a west coast style offense when Smith was there and Apparently the Eagles think he'll be able to fit in to their offense more easily than Curtis would have. Much was expected of Smith when Tampa Bay drafted him 4 years ago. So far he has not lived up to his potential but perhaps with Eagles in a familiar offense and with no pressure on him, he'll finally start to show what he is capable of. At any rate he at least provides a little more size than Curtis, so perhaps if nothing else he can be a pretty good blocker.
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