Been away in Clearwater, FLA for a week celebrating my daughter’s wedding and have not updated the old blog since I left……….thanks Bernalda for the nice comment, see us Phillie and Mets fans can get along!  In any regards here is a summary of the week I missed while down in rainy florida……yes rained everday I was there!  The one week I show up happens to be the week they get a steady stream of much needed agua across the whole bloody state, oh well……. at least the Fighthin’s didn’t play soggy for the week.  Here is the recap.

Saturday, May 16th – Day/Night Double Header in Washington

Game 1 : Phillies 8 Nationals 5

Brett Myers had a really nice game going seven innings allowing only three hits and two runs to earn his third win of the season.  Ryan Madson got hit around a bit in the eighth giving up three runs which created a save situation in the ninth which Brad Lidge converted for his sixth of the year.  Raul Ibanez continued his all-star pace by blasting two home runs in the game and Jayson Werth also hit a dinger.  The Phillies pounded 14 hits in total including three from Ibanez and Werth and two each from Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Chris Coste.

Game 2 : Phillies 7 Nationals 5

Rookie Drew Carpenter was recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley and made his major league starting debut in this one which was shortened by rain.  The game was stopped in the top of the sixth inning and play never resumed.  Carpenter only pitched 4 and 1/3 innings but was credited with the win due to the shortened game.   Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez each blasted home runs in the game to lead the Phillie offense.  The Phillies accumulated nine hits in the five full innings of play,  Chase Utley was 3 for 3 and Jimmy Rollins, Ibanez and Howard each had two hit games.  No coincedence that when J-Roll gets multi hit games the Fightins’ score alot of runs!

Sunday May 17th : Phillies 8 Nationals 6 – Washington, D.C.

Chan Ho Park pitched himself out of the rotation in this one as he only lasted 1 and 1/3 innings giving up 5 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks.  Park was terrible in this one and dug the Phillies a early hole after they had even spotted him a three run lead in the first inning!  Five Phillies relievers limited the Nationals to only one run and four hits the rest of the way and rookie Sergio Escalona picked up his first major league win, he replaced Drew Carpenter on the roster who was optioned back to Lehigh Valley prior to the game.   Scott Eyre earned his sixth hold of the season and Brad Lidge pitched in the ninth to gain his 7th save.   Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth led the offense with two hits each as the Fightin’s swept the four game series from Washington.

Tuesday, May 19th : Phillies 4 Reds 3 – Cincinatti, Ohio

Cole Hamels pitched six strong innings to earn his second win of the season and Ryan Howard belted his ninth home run of the year as the Phillies defeated the Reds in the series opener.  Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson each earned holds and Brad Lidge notched his eighth save of the season.

Wednesday, May 20th :  Reds 5 Phillies 1 – Cincinatti, Ohio

Jamie Moyer pitched better in this one but still suffered his fourth loss of the year.  Moyer went six innnings giving up three runs on nine hits.  It was all Reds starter Aaron Harrang needed as he tossed seven frames striking out nine while stopping a hot Phillie offense.  Raul Ibanez did hit his major league leading 14th home run in the game to account for the Phillies lone run.  Ibanez is making Phillie faithful state “Pat who ?”

Thursday, May 21st :  Phillies 12 Reds 5 – still in Ohio!

Joe Blanton was the happy recipient of the strong Phillie offensive showing as he went only five innings to earn his second win of the season.  Blanton gave up five runs in the fifth frame as he had shut the Reds out to that point.  Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park and Sergio Escalona finished the game and held the Reds scoreless.   Chase Utley, Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard and superman Raul Ibanez each belted home runs in the game for the Phillies.  Jimmy Rollins had a four hit game and continues to raise his average.

Friday, May 22 : Phillies 7 Yankees 3 – Yankee Stadium, NYC

Brett Myers threw his best game of the season going eight strong innings against the Bronx Bombers limiting them to three runs on eight hits.  Ryan Madson tossed a scoreless ninth to finish the game.  Jimmy Rollins belted a home run in his first at bat in the new Yankee stadium to get things started for the Phillies.  Jayson Werth also homered and Raul Ibanez hit his 16th home run of the season as well.  Carlos Ruiz had a three hit game batting out of the nine hole for the Phillies. Matt Stairs served as the DH in the first interleague game of the season for the FIghtins.

Saturday, May 23rd :  Yankees 5 Phillies 4 – NYC

J.A. Happ pitched really well in his first start of the season since replacing Chan Ho Park in the rotation but came up with a no decision as the Yankees mounted a ninth inning comeback to win.  Happ threw six innings only giving up 2 runs and 4 hits.  Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson each earned holds but Brad Lidge could not hold the Yankees in the ninth and was credited with both his second loss of the season and third blown save.   John Mayberry, Jr. belted a three run home run in his first major league at bat !  Mayberry was recalled from Triple A to add a right handed bat for interleague play, Sergio Escalona was optioned back to Lehigh.  Raul Ibanez blasted his 17th home run of the season in this one as well………… the man is on fire!

Chatter

While in Florida we took in a Rays game as they played Oakland in an afternoon game on Thursday, the 21st.   We got soaked trying to get into the stadium as it was raining like crazy, so soaked that I had to buy a Ray’s T-shirt to wear and take off my World Champion Phillies T-shirt I had worn to the game!    Only a security guard politely chided me about the Phillies shirt,   they announced 13,000 as the attendance but I think it was far more sparse than that.  The stadium is not horrible but is still a  far cry  from the newer parks like CBP in Philly.   The fans jumped on reliever Troy Percival in earnst and booed the hell out of him when he could not throw strikes, turns out he was hurt and was put on the DL the next day……… never will understand what booing does for folks!  The Rays bid for a new stadium by the waterfront in St. Pete was rejected so I am not sure what the next move is for the franchise, the core Rays fans seem loyal but I don’t know if there are enough of them!   In any regards the Rays have a good young team and should be supported, if not in Tampa then I am sure some other city will welcome them.  By the by the Rays won the game 5-4 with a ninth inning rally sparked by a Carl Crawford single, like him as a player but his buddy in center, B.J. Upton is a dawg in my opinion, doesn’t run out ground balls and half assed a fly ball to center field that he could of caught with a bit of effort,  Charlie would have eaten him alive if he were one of his players and did that!

The Phillies dropped the last two games of the three game home series against the Dodgers, it deflated the team record to 8 and 12 at home but they rebounded with a road win against the Nationals to improve the season record to 18 and 17. 

May 13, 2009 – Dodgers 9 Phillies 2 :  

Jamie Moyer got roughed up again in this one as he was able to only pitch four and one thirds innings while getting tagged for eight hits and seven runs, all earned.   Moyer was hit hard and once again had difficulty locating his pitches effectively.  If he cannott be precise in pitch location then he will not succeed, he knows that and had bouts where it happened last year but in order to stay in the rotation must turn it around.   Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez homered in the game, Carlos Ruiz led the offensive attack with two hits but it was a faint offensive attack at best as the team could only muster five hits in total.  Ex Phil Randy Wolf pitched a very effective game for the Dodgers and claimed his second win of the season by going six frames. 

May 14, 2009 – Dodgers 5 Phillies 3 :

In an afternoon game to wrap up the series Cole Hamels pitched his most effective game of the 2009 season.  Hamels went seven strong frames allowing only one earned run, two total, while striking out nine.  Hamels left the game trailing as once again the Phillie offense struggled against Dodger pitching.  Chad Billingsley went seven innings also for the Dodgers limiting the Fightin’s to only one run on three hits.   The Phillies could only muster five hits total once again and two players accounted for four of them!  Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez had two hits each in this one.   Ruiz tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a clutch two base knock but the game was eventually lost in extra innings as Chad Durbin gave up two runs in the Dodger tenth and the Phillies succumbed.  The loss dropped the Phillies record to .500 overall as the home game struggles continued.

May 15, 2009 – Phillies 10 Nationals 6 : ( in Washington)

It was far from easy as once again the team was forced to come from behind to win a game.  Joe Blanton gave up four runs in five innings of work as the starter, he could not find the strike zone as he walked six batters in addition to giving up five hits.   The Phillies offense battled back however and held a two run lead going into the National’s last at bat.  Ryan Howard blasted a three run home run in the seventh frame to put the team ahead but Brad Lidge continued his struggles in the closer role as he was tagged for two runs with two outs in the ninth  and the Nationals tied the game forcing extra innings.  Skipper Charlie Manuel’s hand was forced as he had to use expected Saturday night starter J.A. Happ in relief for the extra frames.  Happ responded with two scoreless innings and actually ended up earning the win,  Raul Ibanez knocked in the game winning run as he slapped a bases loaded single in the top of the 12th to score two.  The Phillie offense broke out in this one as they tallied 16 hits including four hit games for Ibanez and Pedro Feliz.  Carlos Ruiz continued his hot hitting as he tallied three hits in the game.  Shane Victorino had a two hit game.    The Phillies away record improved to 9 and 4 with the victory.

Chatter

The team was honored with a visit to the White House Friday afternoon to meet our 44th president, the honorable Mr. Obama.   Jimmy Rollins presented our commander in chief with a Phillie jersey with number 44 and his name on it.   President Obama, albeit a White Sox fan, acknowledged the team as just that, a team and stated that they were proof of what can happen when folks work together. 

Andrew Carpenter will be recalled today to pitch the second game of a day night doubleheader against the Nationals.   J.A. Happ was to start the game but had to be used in relief on Friday night.  Miguel Cairo will be designated for assignment to make temporary room on the roster for Carpenter. Carpenter is a 23 year old who had a spot appearance in the show with the team last season.  He is a control pitcher who relies on contact to get batters out……….. can’t do much worse than the collective starting staff has performed thus far!

My daughter gets married this coming Monday in the spring training home of the Phillies, Clearwater, FLA!   When she was a little girl I used to take her to Clearwater for baseball tournaments I would play in and also for Phillies spring training, she always said that when she got married that Clearwater was where she wanted it to be…….. so trying to be a good Dad I am accomodating!  Maybe I will run into Pat Burrell while I am down in the Tampa area!

Jayson Werth stole four bases in the opening game of the Phillies three game home series against his former  team, the Dodgers.   Included in his four steals was an electric swipe of home in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and the bases juiced.   Werth timed the throwback to the pitcher from catcher Russell Martin perfectly and sprinted immediately thereafter  for home sliding under the return throw from the pitcher!  Alot of guts to even try it but one of those plays when successful leaves folks talking about it for a long time!

Chan Ho Park had his second consecutive strong outing by going six innings allowing only seven hits and two runs.  Park started out a bit shaky in the first inning as the Dodgers hit some bullets but they were only able to score one time, he settled in nicely thereafter and earned the win.   Werth led the Philie offense with two hits as the team could only muster six in the game.  Raul Ibanez had the only extra base hit for the Fightins as he doubled to knock in one of the runs.   Pinch hitter extraordinaire Matt Stairs added another pinch single to his tally with by delivering in the bottom of the eighth.

The bullpen did the job once again as Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge closed the game behind Park.  Orlando Hudson had three hits in the game for the Dodgers.  Lidge struggled a bit in the ninth but held on to earn his fifth save of the season.

Chatter

Werth’s four steals tied a team record for steals in a game, the last time a Phillie did so was in 1978 when Garry Maddox stole four in a fourteen inning game.  Balking Bob Davidson had a tough nite as first base umpire and he missed a couple calls that were not so close for a professional umpire to make.  Skipper Charlie Manuel mildly protested a call in the eighth just to let him know.   Jimmie Rollins batted out of the fifth slot in the lineup in this one as he is battling a season long slump, J-Roll hit the ball hard a couple times and ended up one for three with one walk.  Rollins will be fine, just gotta stick with him.  The TV crew got a great shot of ex Phillie Larry Bowa  in the Dodger dugout after a double steal was pulled off by the Phillies in the seventh, Bowa tossed his sunflower seeds and stomped into the clubhouse entry in disgust!  Gotta love his intensity. 

Chan Ho Park appeared to tweak a hamstring running out a bunt in his first at bat, the trainer was brought onto the field in the top of the fifth to check him but Park stayed in the game.  Time will tell I suppose if the injury is something that may cause down time.

So far this season the Fightin’s have been a better road team than at home, that trend continued as the Phillies began a short four game road trip with a sweep of the Cardinals in the baseball mecca, St. Louis.   In game one of the series on Monday, May 4th big Joe Blanton delivered his best outing of the season as he pitched six effective innings giving up one run on only four hits to earn his first win of the season.  Jayson Werth belted a two run home run in the fourth inning off of former Phil Kyle Lohse.   Ryan Howard smoked a grand slam, ( his second of the season), in the fifth inning off of Lohse to end his outing abruptly!  Both taters were long ones, the defending World Champions can hit and it don’t matter if they are playing in Yellowstone……when they hit ‘em they are out of any park!   Scott Eyre, Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Blanton to close out the game, a 6 to 1 Phillies win.

On Tuesday evening Brett Myers was the starter for the Phillies and pitched 5 and 1/3 innings to earn the win albeit it was not a stellar performance.  Myers gave up five runs on nine hits and while earning the win but it was more due to the potent Phillies offense than to his effectiveness.  Shane Victorino belted a solo home run to lead off the game and Jayson Werth hit his fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning, a three run shot off of Cardinal starter Adam Wainwright.   The Cardinals hit three home runs of thier own in the game including Albert Pujol’s 10th of the season. Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson each earned holds in relief and Brad Lidge closed the game albeit a non-save situation.  Victorino had four hits in the game while Jimmie Rollins, Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz had two hits each.  Jayson Werth had four RBI and Shane Victorino had three.  FInal Count – Phillies 10 Cardinals 7

Chatter

The Phillies next road opponent is the not so Amazin Mets in thier new ballyard.  Chan Ho Park takes the ball in game one vs Johan Santana, a surely apparent mismatch…….. Park needs to get back his agressiveness and prove he belongs in the rotation, he is definitely on the borderline of being pulled from the spot.  Cole Hamels is being held back to Friday night vs the Atlanta Braves at home.  Chase Utley was held out in the Tuesday game as he was hit by a pitched ball on the ankle in Monday’s game, Miguel Cairo got his first start of the game at second base in his place.  Utley was not a happy camper being asked to sit out by the skipper, he is a true throwback that wants to play them all and more than willing to play thru pain…….. part of what makes him a true MVP type player!

Chan Ho Park continued his early season struggle as a starter on Friday night as he gave up seven runs and eight hits in only four and 2/3 innings of work.  Park, once again, had poor location and paid for it early as he gave up a first inning two run bomb to Dan Murphy.   The Mets scored in four of the first five frames of the game in building a lead they would never relinquish.  Chad Durbin, J.A. Happ and Clay Condrey pitched scoreless baseball in relief of Park but the hole was too deep for the Fightin’s to climb out of in this one.   

The Phillies did fight back by scoring four runs including a solo home run by Chase Utley in the seventh frame.  Pedro Feliz continued to swing a hot bat as he collected two hits, Raul Ibanez knocked in two of the four runs bringing his season RBI total to 19.    The Mets bullpen pitched as advertised in this one as Pedro Feliciano, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriquez held the lead,  Putz was particularly impressive as he worked a perfect eighth inning.

On Saturday afternoon the two rivals were back at it as each team sent lefties to the mound.  Jamie Moyer took the hill for the Phils against the egnimatic Oliver Perez.   The Phils took an early 4 to 2 lead and knocked Perez out of the game after two and 1/3 innings, Perez has struggled mightily for the Mets thus far this season and may be on his way to Adam Eaton type affection by Met fans! Moyer lasted into the sixth inning but found trouble in that frame as he gave up three runs to relinquish the lead.    The Phillie bullpen was perfect in relief as Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge and Jack Taschner each were unscored upon.   Raul Ibanez hit his eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning to retie the game.

The Phillies won the game in the bottom of the tenth on a bases loaded walk issued by Sean Green to Shane Victorino that scored Pedro Feliz.  Green was his own worst enemy as he issued two walks and a hit batter in the inning.   Feliz, Victorino and Ibanez each had two hit ballgames for the Fightins.

Chatter

Cole Hamels threw a bullpen session early Saturday and felt soreness around his ankle which may prohibit him from starting Tuesday against St. Louis.   If Hamels cannott start then J.A. Happ will take the turn.  Carlos Ruiz was activated off the D.L. on Saturday and started as the catcher.  Lou Marson was optioned back to Triple A Lehigh Valley to make room on the roster for Ruiz.   Chan Ho Park will most likely stay in the rotation at least for now.  Albeit Park has been inconsistent the injury to Hamels virtually  insures that he will get one more start, he needs to pitch like he did in spring training when he earned the spot in order to keep it.  Kyle Kendrick is 2-1 at Triple A in five starts with a 2.77 ERA so help may only be a short drive away!  Also keep an eye on Michael Stutes at Double A Reading along with Vance Worley.   The Phillies have built up some depth in the system which makes the boys on the big team a bit more accountable.

Early hitting season continued as the Fightin’s smashed four home runs enroute to a 7 to 1 victory in the second game of this home series against the Washington Nationals.   Chase Utley smoked two long balls driving in three runs.  Utley now has seven home runs on the young season.  Raul Ibanez continued to impress as he stroked two more hits including his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the eighth inning.   Phillie fans have adopted a new chant of RAUUULL when Ibanez comes to the plate.  He has added alot to the team makeup both on and off the diamond, class act indeed !

Pedro Feliz also belted a home run, his second of the season.  Feliz had a two hit ballgame as well.  Shane Victorino had a two hit offensive effort also.   The only downer of the night was when starting pitcher Cole Hamels turned his ankle in the fifth inning while fielding a ground ball.  Hamels had to leave the contest and was in obvious pain.   We will have to wait and see how severe the injury is.  Chad Durbin threw three and two thirds innings of stellar relief behind Hamels and iron man pitcher Clay Condrey threw the ninth frame to close out the game.  With the win the Phillies record improved to 11 and 8, pending the outcome of the Marlins/Mets game they could wake up in first place in the N.L.  East in the morning.

Chattter

When Ibanez hit his grand slam home run last night it was the 26th grand slam in the majors this April !  That seems like an unreal number, maybe we need to launch an investigation into juiced baseballs again………. or bad pitching !   Carlos Ruiz suffered a setback in his rehab assignment at Triple A affiliate Lehigh Valley and was shut down again, Ruiz was back in Philly for medical review.  Brad Lidge has inflamation of the knee and according to the skipper is day to day.  The Hamels injury is concerning, last season the team went relatively injury free over the season’s course, J-Roll was hurt in the early part of the season and Utley played with a bad hip in the second half but for the most part the team avoided long term breaks in service.   The season is a marathon so the depth the team has built up in the minors will indeed be tested a bit it seems.  

It was Charlie Manuel bobblehead night at the park and the game was a sellout, look on e-bay for folks looking to sell ‘em!

What with all the distractions of the early season, e.g. championship ceremonies, Harry the K passing, etc.  skipper Charlie Manuel said it was now time for the team to re-focus on what they are paid to do……… play baseball !

With that in mind the Fightins sent veteran Jamie Moyer to the hill against Milwaukee.  Moyer threw six plus innings to earn the win.  He was tagged early by Ryan Braun for a dinger, ( Phillies pitchers have given up a home run in every game this season thus far), but settled down nicely thereafter.  Pedro Feliz led the Phillies offense with three hits and three RBI’s including his first homer of the season.  Two hit games were turned in by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chris Coste and Jayson Werth.  Scoreless relief innings were tossed by Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and Jack Taschner.

A “focused” effort brought the team record on the young season back to .500 at 6 and 6.

Chatter

The Florida Marlins have been cooled off a bit after a torrid start by of all crews, the Pittsburgh Pirates!  The Bucco’s swept the series today from the Fish making the Marlins record 11 and 4.  The Mets and Braves are both under .500 so if the Fightins can string a few wins prior to month end they could in comparison to the division have a very competitive initial month.  The team goes to Florida next for a three game set so they hold the immediate division record in their own hands.

Chase Utley has a 33 game streak going of reaching base, our second sacker is a real offensive weapon when he is healthy !  

In the series finale against the Nationals, (game 2 of the series was postponed due to rain), Joe Blanton made his second start of the season.   Adam Dunn took Blanton deep in the Washington first with two mates aboard to give Washington an early 3-0 lead.   The Fightins got one back in the fourth as Raul Ibanez singled to score Chase Utley, they made it 3-2 in the fifth inning as Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Lou Marson. 

Shairon Martis threw 6 and 1/3 effective innings for the Nationals limiting the Phillies to five hits and the  two runs.  Blanton threw six innings in this outing allowing only three runs and was replaced by Chad Durbin in the seventh. Durbin was tagged by Josh WIllingham for a solo dinger to lead off the seventh.  Jack Taschner got tuned by Elijah Dukes and Alberto Gonzalez for solo bombs in the eighth to score two more.  He gave up two more runs on multiple consecutive hits before being pulled in favor of J.A. Happ who closed the inning.

The Phillies pitchers have been tagged for 20 taters in the eight games played thus far season, that is alot of homers and must be corrected else a long season looms in that regard.

Chatter

The Phillies will wear a patch on the jersey over their heart with the initials HK in honor of Harry Kalas for the remainder of the season.  His fellow announcers will also wear the patch on thier shirts in the booth.  Mr. Kalas’s body will lie in repose at home plate on Saturday from 8 am till 1 pm at Citizen’s Bank Park.  Fans can pay respects on a first come first served basis, a memorial ceremony will be conducted from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. …..  not since Babe Ruth lay in state at home plate in  Yankee Stadium has such a service been conducted.  It is a proper sendoff for a beloved figure that we fans of the team held in such high regard for 38 years, class move for a class man.

Cole Hamels took the ball as the starting pitcher in the Fightin’s fourth game of the season and continued the trend of poor outings by the starting staff.  Hamels was touched for seven runs on eleven hits and lasted only 3 and 2/3 innings before being lifted.  Hamels gave up multiple extra base hits including a two run tater to Garrett Atkins.   He was far from sharp, poor pitch location and had no velocity whatsoever as his fastball was consistently in the 85-86 range and only a few times reached 90.  That led to little distinction between the heater and his meal ticket pitch, the changeup, and  therefore allowed the Rockies to tee off.

Meanwhile the Phillies bats were relatively silent other than Jayson Werth who had four  hits  including a dinger and Chase Utley who posted two hits, Werth scored all three Phillie runs.   Ryan Howard had a really bad day as he grounded into three double plays !    Give the Rockies starter Jason Marquis credit though as he tossed seven innings only allowing five hits.  J.A. Happ and Clay Condrey threw scoreless innings in relief for the Phillies but Chad Durbin got hit around a bit in the eighth giving up three runs.

  Back at ‘em tommorrow with Brett Myers making his second start this year for the Phillies.

The Rockies home field has an enourmous outfield playing area by design due to the high altitude, outfielders sure have to be on their horse to play on that field !  What seem like routine fly balls drift forever and end up on the warning track, this on a field where the foul poles are some 350 feet away down each line !

Chatter

Carlos Ruiz left the game early with what was reported as a strained right oblique.  The thing the team avoided last season was injuries for signficant periods,  I have my doubts that Mr. Hamels is entirely healthy right now and if Ruiz missses any signficant time we may see young Lou Marson in the show sooner than one would have thought.  Not a good sign albeit early yet.

The Phillies signed ex San Francisco Giant pitcher Tyler Walker to a minor league contract, he reported to Lehigh Valley in Triple A.  Walker had been released by the Seattle Mariners at the end of spring training, he may be called upon later in the season for bullpen assistance…….. if our starting pitching keeps up the pace they are at we will need alot of relievers !

Ok so now I am starting to get annoyed a bit.  Joe Blanton started things well enough by striking out the first two hitters in the game but then got tagged for a double followed by a two run bomb by Bryan McCann.  For the third straight game in 2009 the FIghtins trailed in a home game before ever swinging a bat !   Is it a sign that our starting staff may be an achilles heel or do we stay with the standard theme that it is early and no worries yet, a bit of both but these games do count so it is time to wake up boys else we dig a hole too deep!

Raul Ibanez tied the game in the Phillies second with his own two run dinger scoring Ryan Howard in front of him but Blanton could not hold the score as Atlanta exploded for five runs in the third.  Blanton was done after four frames being tagged for seven runs on nine hits !  J.A. Happ got tagged for two runs in his stint, one a bomb by rookie Jordan Schafer, his second of the young season already!    Chad Durbin could not find the plate in the seventh and actually walked in a run before being replaced.   Not good indeed!  Down 10 to 3 after six and one half  of play not something to brag about !

And then…… we woke up, sort of.  Bobby Cox had to use four relievers in the home seventh including his normal fifth starter as the Fightins batted around plus four to score 8 runs while only collecting four hits!  The Atltanta pen walked in four runs with the bases juiced and collectively walked five batters and hit another!   Key singles were delivered by Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz. Phillie batters showed alot of patience in their at bats en route to gaining the team’s first lead of the season.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth to set up his bullpen buddy Brad Lidge.   Raul Ibanez led off the home eighth with yet another walk!  Pedro Feliz was giving himself up attempting to bunt Ibanez over but Jorge Campillo (Atlanta’s fifth starter) could not throw him a strike and the count went to 3-0 and Charlie gave Pedro a green light, he promptly doubled to left to knock Campillo out of the game !  Jeff Bennett came in for Atlanta and gave up a sacrifice fly RBI to pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett before working out of the inning. 

Lidge worked the ninth to earn his first save of the season, he was tagged by Mike Diaz for a solo bomb but struck out two to close it!  FInal Count :  Phillies 12 Braves 11……. my wife said in the sixth that alot of game was left and to not count our boys out!  She is quite the prophet eh!

Javier Vazquez pitched six effective innings for the Braves and should have earned the win.  The statement of the series still was that Atltanta starters did what was expected and ours did not,  the Phillies had many poor at bats in the series which were a combination of good Atlanta starting  pitching and poor approach by the Fightin’s.   The seventh inning comeback erased some of that especially the at bat by Ibanez who showed his hitting prowess by taking an outside pitch to left for a single rather than attempting to pull it.  Now the team goes on the road and must do more of what they showed in the later stages of this game.  The Atlanta pen could be their issue this year in light of what we saw in this series in games one and three.

Chatter

Pat Gillick was clearly overcome with emotion during the pre-game ring ceremony as he greeted each player, coach and clubhouse staff member to give them their rings.  Gillick’s tears symbolized heart felt emotions in conclusion of a great feat.  It was great to watch !  GIllick and team president David Montgomery will personally deliver the rings to each coach or player who could not attend the event, a real touch of class.  Speaking of a class act, So Taguchi did not attend the ceremony out of respect for his teammates this season on the Triple A Iowa Cubs, he felt that he should honor his committment to this year’s team instead, that is a team player truly defined ! 

Philly fans showed both sides of our colors by booing Adam Eaton and roundly cheering Pat Burrell.  Sometimes I just shake my head.   Cole Hamels takes the ball on Thursday in Colorado, perhaps the young ace can find our first starter’s win!  Stay tuned, still 159 to play.