Good pitching usually beats good hitting every time, that indeed was proven again this weekend as the Fightin’s dropped the last two games of the three game home series with the Atlanta Braves.  On Saturday Javier Vazquez threw 7 and 2/3 innings of stellar pitching against the Phillies, he only allowed four hits and two runs in that span.    With the exception of a few badly placed pitches Joe Blanton also pitched well going eight innings, the difference being that Blanton gave up two two run bombs, one to Brian McCann and the other to Yunel Escobar.   The Phillies were limited to five hits in the game, two of which were delivered by Chase Utley.  Utley homered in the game as did Raul Ibanez.    Final count :  Atlanta 6 Phillies 2

Sunday’s game was more of the same from a pitching dominance perspective, this time the Atlanta hurler was Kenshin Kawakami as he went six innings giving up five hits and two runs.  Three Braves relievers went the final three frames limiting the Phillies to one additional hit and no runs.   The Phillies were thus limited to six hits total, two each by Ryan Howard and Matt Stairs who got the start in right field.   Brett Myers pitched well for the Phils by going six innings allowing only one run on five hits.  Jack Taschner took the loss as he was tagged for two runs and three hits in only two thirds of an inning of relief work in the seventh frame.   FInal Count : Braves 4 Phillies 2

Chatter

With the two losses the Phillies record dropped to 15 and 14 and they fall to third place in the division one and 1/2 games behind the Mets.  The team has an offday on Monday before opening a three game home set with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Chan Ho Park will take the pill against his ex mates in the series opener.  The Phillies lead the majors in both sides of home run statistics !  They have hit more home runs than any team but the pitching staff has also given up more home runs that anyone…….. by far, in fact they are on pace to set a new major league record for home runs allowed!