The Phillies have been absolute road warriors so far in 2009 and that trend continued as the Fightins took San Diego by storm and swept a three game series from them. The sweep extended the team winning streak to six games and positioned them with a three and 1/2 game lead in National League East.
Monday, June 1st – Phillies 5 Padres 3
Joe Blanton tossed seven strong innings allowing only six hits to earn his fourth win of the season. Scott Eyre tossed the eigth inning to earn his 10th hold of the season and closer Brad Lidge finished the game to gain save number 13. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley hit back to back home runs to power the Philly offense. Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each had two hits in the contest. Adrian Gonzalez hit his league leading 21st home run for San Diego.
Tuesday, June 2nd – Phillies 10 Padres 5
Antonio Bastardo made his major league debut a successful one as he threw six innings allowing only four hits and one run while striking out 5 batters. Bastardo basically featured a fast ball albeit a very good as he consistently hit 94-95 on the radar gun. It was indeed a very impressive debut for the young 22 year old lefthander! Jake Peavey only lasted one inning on the mound for San Diego as the Phillies tuned him up for four runs, Peavey is fighting an uppper respiratory infection and it definitely effected him. Raul Ibanez continued his hot hitting by belting 2 home runs on this, his 37th birthday. Ibanez now has 19 bombs on the season! Greg Dobbs, getting a start at third base, belted his second home run of the season. Ibanez had three hits in the game while Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard each had two hits. The Phillies were riding a comfortable nine run lead going into the home seventh but Chan Ho Park got lit up for four runs to make the score 10-5. Chad Durbin pitched one and 2/3 innings after Park but loaded the bases in the ninth which brought the tieing run in the on deck circle and Ryan Madson into the game, Madson recorded the last out to earn his second save of the season.
Wednesday, June 3rd – Phillies 5 Padres 1
J.A. Happ threw a gem for the Fightins going seven innings allowing no runs and only four hits! Happ earned his fourth win of the season and has pitched thus far like a second ace in the rotation! J.C. Romero made his 2009 debut by pitching 1 and 1/3 innings, Ryan Madson finished the game.
Ryan Howard belted his 16th home run of the season in the sixth inning to plate two runs. Greg Dobbs started in right field and collected two hits in the game. He also made a very good defensive play in the second inning running down a ball in the gap to record the third out of the inning. Shane Victorino left the game early with a strained hip. No word on the severity, Jayson Werth finished the game in center field.
Chatter
The Phillies now move on to L.A. for a four game set, Cole Hamels gets the first start of the series, the Dodgers will be throwing three lefties at the Phillies in the series rotation. Tom Glavine was released by the Braves, rumblings were the Phillies might be interested but I hope not, the young guys have stepped up thus far so I think they should ride it out for a bit to see how it goes. Kyle Drabek was promoted to Double A Reading and threw very well in his debut there, GM Ruben Amaro was on hand in Reading to see the young right hander throw, word is that he hit 99 on the radar gun! Stay tuned on that front, could Drabek be in the bigs this season ?
