Jimmy Rollins started game three in a different way, he stroked a single to center! Rollins advanced to second on a walk to Jayson Werth, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Chase Utley to put the Fightins up by one. The Rays tied the score in the top of the second as Carl Crawford scored.

Carlos Ruiz hit a solo home run in the Phillies second to put the home team back ahead. That score held till the bottom of the sixth when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back to back home runs to make the count 4 to 1.

The Rays scored two in the seventh to chase Phililes starter Jamie Moyer. Moyer was outstanding and gave the young Rays a schooling by hitting spots consistently. He actually made a great play on a bunt by Carl Crawford in the seventh but the first base umpire blew the call. Crawford would score one of the runs.

Ryan Madson was touched for one run in the eighth as the speed of B.J. Upton scored the tieing run. Upton beat out an infield hit, stole second and third and scored on a errant throw to third by Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz.

The Phillies won the game in the bottom of the ninth as Eric Bruntlett was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Shane Victorino was attempting to bunt Bruntlett to second but a wild pitch did it for him as Bruntlett went to second and even advanced to third as the Rays catcher threw the ball into center field! Rays skipper Joe Maddon then elected to walk both Victorino and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs to load the bases. He brought his right fielder in behind second base and dared hitter Carlos Ruiz to be able to hit a fly ball! Ruiz hit a squibber down the third base line and Bruntlett scored the winning run!

Chatter

Jamie Moyer was outstanding in this game and showed how a true professional plays the game. The game did not start till after 10 pm EDT due to heavy rains in the Philadelphia area all day and early evening Saturday. The game concluded around 1:30 AM!! Philly fans stayed thru the whole thing though and showed their faith in the Fightins! Joe Blanton will go for the Fightins on the mound Sunday night. Give the Rays credit, they are a very good team and have alot of fight in them………sounds like our Phililes! All three games thus far could have went either way, these two teams are matched very well!

Tampa Bay jumped out early in game two of the series as they plated two runs in the first inning. Akinora Iwamura led off with a walk, B.J. Upton then singled to right field and Jayson Werth kicked the grounder allowing Iwamura and Upton to advance an extra base. Two consecutive ground ball outs scored the two runs for the Rays. Tampa added the third run in the second frame on an RBI single by Upton. The Phillies continued to squander chances to score in the first four frames as they put leadoff runners on in both the second and third frames and two runners on in the fourth but could not score. The Rays added another run in the fourth on a safety squeeze by shortstop Jason Bartlett.

The Phillies made some bonehead plays early in the game, twice following walks by swinging at the first pitch to make outs, getting picked off first base on a fly ball to right field and making two fielding/throwing errors! Not playing smart usually leads to getting beat. Thru seven offensive innings the Fightins had left eleven runners on base without scoring. Brett Myers didy not pitch that badly and completed seven innings but with no support offensively was in a losing spot.

The Phillies finally scored in the top of the eighth as pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett slammed a solo home run off of David Price. Carlos Ruiz scored in the ninth as he led off the inning with a double, Jayson Werth knocked him in with what was scored an error on the Rays third sacker. Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch in the ninth but the home plate umpire missed the call which hurt as he would eventually fly out to shortstop. The Phillies can attribute this loss to too many squandered chances, hopefully in game three things turn around.

Carlos Ruiz had a very good game offensively as he belted two doubles down the left field line and also worked two walks.

Chatter

I believe there is a major adjustment for hitters in thier first at bats in the Dome that the Rays play in regarding the hitting background, the reason I say that is Phillies contact hitters like Greg Dobbs looked feeble in early swings almost as if they did not see the ball! I know that the Rays have some great young hurlers but I don’t believe that hitters that normally make contact would look so bad on thier hacks! The series shifts to Philadelphia for game 3, rain is forecast for Saturday night when the game is scheduled that puts it in doubt of being played, if rained out the series would finish on consecutive nights without a travel date allowance. Might actually be an advantage for the Fightins as Cole Hamels could go in game four on four days rest or in game 5 with an extra day of rest. He seems to thrive on the extra day off.

B.J. Upton dogged running out a ground ball again in the seventh inning as he hit into a 6-4-3 double play, the young man has alot of talent but needs to get the cadilac image out of his head!

With the division won yesterday the final game of the regular season became one that allowed skipper Charlie Manuel to rest his core players and play callups and reserves.  Kyle Kendrick was given the start and he pitched four innings but had similiar struggles as he displayed during the stretch drive.  Kendrick gave up three runs on four hits while walking one.

The Phillies bats though stayed hot as rookie catcher Lou Marson, the Phillies minor league player of the year,  collected his first big league hit in his first at bat in the game and later belted his first major league home run.  It is expected that Marson will make a strong push to make the ballclub next spring.  So Taguchi had a good game out of the leadoff spot as he had three hits.  Eric Bruntlett and Tadahito Iguchi also had two hit game.  The Phillies prevailed by an 8 to 3 count capped off by a pinch home run by Matt Stairs.  Les Walrond got the win in relief.  The Fighins finished the season with a record of 92 wins and 70 losses.

Chatter

Kendrick will be sent to Clearwater, Florida to work at the spring training complex.  He will not be on the initial playoff roster but as needs arise may be added later.  Management must decide who they are going to place on the playoff roster as the NLDS will start on Wednesday.  The Milwaukee Brewers will be in town Wednesday to kick off the best of five series, their ace C.C. Sabbathia threw today in the clincher so he will not be available till at the earliest the second game.  Cole Hamels will take the ball for the Phillies, lets hope he does not psyche himself out like he did last year. 

Great time to be a Phillies fan!  Sure hope our team stays fired up and approaches the playoffs to win, team members admit that last year they were pretty happy to just make it, this year there is an urgency to do some damage!

Prior to the beginning of the game the Fightins already knew that the “streakin” Mets had won their game played earlier in the day and had swept the Brewers series so once again the importance of winning the game at hand was magnified.   Ryan Howard got the team started on the right track as he blasted a two run home run to center field in the first inning.  Chase Utley scored in front of Howard, Utley was drilled by a pitch in his at bat which prompted plate umpire Brian Gorman to immediately issue a warning to Nats pitcher Odalis Perez and both benches.  Inferred was that the HBP was for the play at the plate the night before where Utley slammed into the Nats catcher. 

Phils starter Joe Blanton gave the lead right back though in the bottom of the first as Washington scored two runs of their own.   In the Phillies third Jimmy Rollins singled and was plated by a triple to center field by Chase Utley to put the Phillies back ahead by one.  That lead held up till the Nationals fifth……… when

Blanton continued to show us nothing in regards to proving he can step up as a winner when he walked the bases loaded to start the fifth and a very angry  Charlie Manuel came and got him in favor of Ryan Madson.  A  ”lack of guts” was shown by two of our starters in this series and Charlie’s body language clearly showed his displeasure with the approach taken by the big right hander in this one!   The Nationals then took the lead on fielding blunders by the Phils; first a ground ball hit to first baseman Howard where he double clutched on the throw and instead of coming home immediately to cut off the tieing run he soft tossed the ball to second base which also took away any chance of a double play !  Elijah Dukes then hit a sure fire double play to third base but  Chase Utley took the throw in front of the bag and was taken out of the DP turn by the sliding Lastings Milledge.  The Nationals scored two runs on just one base hit!  Sorry, sorry,sorry  half inning of play by the good guys!

Jayson Werth led off the Fightin’s sixth inning with a single and scored ahead of Ryan Howard’s 39th home run of the season as Howard blasted the ball over the right center field wall.  Howard, like the Mets 1st sacker Carlos Delgado, can be a butcher in the field but can erase mistakes with the way he swings the bat!  Washington changed pitchers and the Phillies allowed reliever Jesus Colome to get out of the inning on three pitches, one each to the next three batters!   Ryan Madson showed some moxy by striking out the side in the Nationals sixth inning. 

Ryan Zimmerman tied the game in the Nats seventh with a solo home run hit off of Chad Durbin.  Durbin got hammered in the eighth inning as he gave up three hard singles, the key blow delivered by pinch hitter Ronnie Belliard that put the Nationals ahead.  J.C. Romero came in and walked the first hitter he faced, the immortal Emilio Bonifacio, to load the bases.  Christian Guzman then belted a bases clearing double to put the game away.  Washington batted around in the inning.   The Phillies scored two in the ninth but it was not enough……..FInal count 9 to 7 Washington.

The loss left the Phillies on the outside looking in regards to the playoff chase as they now trail the New York Mets by three full games in the division race and are four and 1/2 behind Milwaukee in the Wild Card chase.  This series loss was a major blow and puts the team in a corner that they will either battle out of or go down for the count from.  They head to New York with their tail between their legs, time to see what the boys are made of.

Chatter

Shane Victorino was given the start off as Jayson Werth started in center field and Eric Bruntlett got the start in right field.  VIctorino has been scuffling a bit lately so Charlie gave him a rest at the beginning albeit Victorino did get in later as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement.  Cole Hamels will start Sunday in the series finale against the Mets as Kyle Kendrick will be skipped this turn in the rotation.    The Phillies must take it to the Mets this weekend in New York, winnng the series is an absolute and a series loss would be devasting in regards to any playoff hopes.  I personally do not think the Mets are that good a ballclub but somehow they continue to win games and show no signs of letting up, if the Fightins are to make the playoffs they must take care of business themselves in these last three head to head contests.  It is make or break time !  Just a note of comparison…….. last year in September  the Mets were coming off a sweep and an offday when they faced the Phillies in a series at Shea and were swept by the Fightins!  As Yogi would say I sure hope it is “dejavu all over again”  this go round.

Question

How many of you value watching the opening day game for the Eagles on Sunday higher than the Mets Phillies contest ? 

Jose Reyes is a hot dog but he is a very talented player as well.  Reyes led off the game with a triple off of Phillies starter Jamie Moyer and scored on a single by Damien Easley.  Easley scored the second run of the initial Mets at bat as Fernando Tatis singled him in.  The Phillies put two runners on with one out in their half of the first but Mets starter Pedro Martinez struck out Ryan Howard on three pitches and then also k’d Shane Victorino.   Damien Easley extended the New York lead in the second inning as he belted a solo home run to left center field with two outs.

The Mets busted the game open in the third inning as Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado got back to back singles and then Fernando Tatis belted a three run home run.  Tatis skipped across the plate when he crossed it, someone is gonna get this hot dog somewhere down the road, not wise to show up opponents!   The key to the Mets success against Moyer was the approach, they laid off pitches out of the zone and forced Moyer to come in when behind in the count and then pounded him.   Even Pedro Martinez got a hit in his second at bat!  Moyer gave up six earned runs and nine hits in the three innings he worked.  He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the Phillies third at bat.

Damien Easley tripled to lead off the Mets fourth and scored the seventh New York run when David Wright grounded out to second base.  Despite being down six runs the Phillies did not play the infield in and conceded the run.  The Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the fourth as Pedro Feliz hit a sacrifice fly to center field to knock in Victorino.

Relief pitcher Clay Condrey started the Phillies fifth as he doubled down the left field line, it was Condrey’s first career extra base hit and only his third hit ever!  Jimmy Rollins then belted a Martinez hanging curve into the right field seats to plate two for the Fightins.  Chase Utley followed by drawing a walk, Ryan Howard then hit a  bomb to left field to score Utley ahead of him and make the count 7 to 5. 

The Mets loaded the bases in the sixth inning with one out but Scott Eyre was able to get Carlos Delgado to ground into a double play without allowing a score!  The two teams had already played for 2 and 1/2 hours by the middle of the sixth inning!  Pedro was pulled after five as Mets skipper Jerry Manuel went to his bullpen, first call Brian Stokes.  Jimmy Rollins singled with two outs in the sixth inning which marked the ninth consecutive plate appearance where he reached base! 

Stokes threw two shutout innings for New York and was replaced by Duaner Sanchez in the eighth. Sanchez only got one out before yielding a single to Carlos Ruiz and was lifted in favor of Pedro Feliciano.  Chris Coste greeted Feliciano with a single and Jimmy Rollins then singled to right field to score Ruiz.  Nobody booed Rollins as he reached base for the 10th consecutive time going 5 for 5 in the contest!  Feliciano did strike out Chase Utley with runners on first and third to temporarily keep the Phillies at bay.  Jerry Manuel then brought in Joe Smith to face Pat Burrell.  Smith got Burrell to fly out to left field to end the inning.

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth and buzzed Fernando Tatis with a fastball before striking him out on two low and away sliders.  Message served.  Eric Bruntlett smoked a pinch hit double with two outs in the Phillies ninth and scored Jayson Werth who had singled earlier in the inning to tie the game!  The Mets bullpen once again blew a save opportunity!  Jose Reyes saved a ninth inning loss for the Mets by making a diving stop on a grounder up the middle to throw out Ruiz and send the contest to extra frames.

This was a great game to watch but I thought it would never end!  As the stroke of midnight came and wenth the two teams had played over five hours!  Shane Victorino led off the 13th inning with a triple down the right field line to force the Mets hand.  They walked the next two hitters to load the bases.  Brett Myers was used as a pinch hitter for Rudy Seanez and was obviously told to not swing as he watched six pitches in striking out.  Chris Coste smoked a liner to center, his fourth hit of the game to score Victorino with the game winner !

Chatter

The Phillies offense struggles with pitchers who feature off speed pitches as their primary, Pedro at one point in the game sat down seven consecutive hitters spotting an 84 to 88 mph fastball but mostly working on changeups.  Jimmy Rollins was the only Phillie to solve him early as he had two hits in his first two at bats.  Pedro had five strikouts thru three innings and never broke 90 mph!  They did get to him in the fifth as they forced him to come up in the zone by laying off pitches and putting him in fastball counts.   Both these teams can hit but it sure is a chess match as to how!

The game was once again sold out, the 44th time this season which ties a Phillies club record. Carlos Ruiz made his major league debut at third base in the ninth inning as the Phillies saved Eric Bruntlett to pinch hit in the home ninth, made Charlie look like a genius, Bruntlett then played third base in the extra innings!  The Phillies carry twelve pitchers on the roster and many times are caught short with position players in late innings.

The offensive drought ended in the Phillies first at bat as team leader Jimmy Rollins led off the home first with a triple to deep right.  Shane Victorino then plated Rollins with a double to right field.  Ryan Howard capped the first inning scoring with an RBI single to score Victorino.

Brett Myers made that lead stand up thru seven frames as he limited the Bucs to four hits.  The only run he allowed came in the fourth frame.  Nate McClouth doubled to right field to score Doug Meintkiewcz.   The Phillies scored their third run of the game in the home seventh as Rollins again tripled to right field, his fourth hit of the game!  Victorino again knocked in his top of the order partner with a single to left field this time.  When these two are making things happen the Fightins are tough to beat!  The leadoff tandem had six hits in the game between them.

Myers pitched into the eighth inning and recorded two outs but was touched for a double by Chris Gomez and was lifted in favor of J.C. Romero who came in to end the inning.  Myers was not happy about being lifted and voiced his opinion openly on the mound to the skipper Charlie Manuel.  Manuel confronted Myers in the dugout and the TV cameras caught the brief nose to nose “discussion”.   Myers is a competitor but Skipper Manuel has proven he is in control of this ship and will take no guff from his players.  As you might tell I am a Charlie Manuel fan and incidents like this are why.  He handled it promptly and put it to rest.  In my opinion he is an excellent manager simply by the way he handles his people.  Players are not encumbered on this team but there is one boss and he will not be shown up!

Jayson Werth led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple off the right field wall.  Greg Dobbs singled him in for the fourth run of the game.  Dobbs was two for three in game, he was lifted for pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett who stayed in the game to play third base in the ninth.

Chad Durbin pitched the ninth inning as Brad Lidge was given the night off.  Durbin gave up a run but was able to finish and earn the first save of his career.   I know from experience that closing a game is a bit harder than pitching the set up innings!  Good job Chad in ultimately coming thru!

Chatter

The team officially retired number 36 in honor of Robin Roberts before the game.  Roberts is a Hall of Famer and was the ace of the 1950 Whiz kids that went to the World Series.   Jamie Moyer takes the hill tommorrow, the 46 year old plans on being back with the team next season to honor his contract, in fact when asked by a reporter he stated he would not rule out playing till 50!  John Russell, the Pirates skipper, who caught Moyer when they were teammates in Texas thinks he possibly could !

Game two of the Florida series pitted Kyle Kendrick against the Fish.  Kendrick was staked to an early lead in this one as the Fightins scored one in the first and two in the second.  Chase Utley had the initial key blow, a double to plate the first run while an Eric Bruntlett double in the second plated Geoff Jenkins who had reached on an error, Kendrick then knocked in Buntlett to help his own cause.

 Ryan Howard smashed his 32^nd home run of the season in the Phillies third at bat to make the score 4-0.  Kyle Kendrick pitched six shutout innings to hold the lead, the twenty three year old right hander pitched out of a few jams en route to the quality start as he had his sinker working really well and got great defensive support from his infield.  He did walk five batters but the stellar fielding in particular by third basemen Bruntlett and short stop Jimmy Rollins preserved his shut out performance.

 Mike Cervenak got his first major league hit and RBI in the bottom of the sixth as he pinch hit for Kendrick to knock in Eric Bruntlett to make the score 5 zip.  Chad Durbin pitched scoreless seventh and eighth frames after manager Charlie Manuel had purposely given him the night off last evening.  Durbin has been excellent in his role this year but had pitched in five of the last six games for the Fightins, coupled with the Monday off day it gave Durbin a much needed and earned two day rest. 

 Ryan Madson pitched a perfect ninth inning to complete the shutout.  Madson only needed six pitches to finish the innings, all of the pitches he threw were strikes!  Kyle Kendrick upped his record to 10 and 5.  Since his recall from the minors mid season last year he is 20 and 9!

  Chatter

 The Phillies had minor league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller on hand at the University of Miami to watch former Phil Freddie Garcia work out on Tuesday but it seems unlikely they would have a genuine interest in re-signing him.  It was reported as more of a cover your bases excursion, apparently fifteen teams watched Garcia throw!  A true indication of how thin pitching is when a guy coming off Tommy John surgery gains that sort of attention deep into August just for a workout!   The more realistic candidate as a potential Phillies signing is left handed reliever Scott Eyre who has cleared waivers after being designated by the Cubs.  Eyre has been on the D.L twice this year and has not pitched well this season albeit he has done so each of the past two seasons…….. us lefties never seem to die and Mr. Eyre most likely will get another look somewhere!

  I was somewhat impressed by Les Walrond’s outing.  He showed a low 90’s fastball and a decent curve ball and cutter, his problem was that he started to nibble after striking out the first batter he faced last night and ended up walking the bases full before giving up a jam shot that scored two.  I think he is worth another look, I remember back to the 70’s an at that time journey man pitcher named Dave Stewart that wore a Phillie uniform early in his career and was given up on…….. he went on to be a stud in Oakland!  Not saying that Waldron is of that ilk but lefties that can throw in the nineties are not readily available!  Tom Gordon had his first rehab appearance in Clearwater earlier this week and threw again this evening but was removed with elbow discomfort; hopes were he might rejoin the bullpen before the end of the month but he will come back to Philly to be examined by the team physician and go from there.   Pedro Feliz is scheduled to come off the DL on Saturday but is still battling lower back issues and most likely will not be reactivated on schedule. 

Joe Blanton made his third start since being acquired from the Oakland A’s for the Fightins, this time against the St. Louis Cardinals, in Busch Stadium, St. Louis.  BLanton was very effective thru seven frames as he held the Redbirds to only one run on four hits.  He had a shutout thru six innings but Ryan Ludwick, who is on a tear, tagged him for a long home run in the seventh.

Blanton was staked to a two run lead early in the game as Greg Dobbs hit a solo home run in the third inning and Ryan Howard slammed his 31st home run of the season in the fourth inning.  Braden Looper pitched six very good innings for St. Louis as he only gave up three hits but two were the long balls. 

Eric Bruntlett was picked off first base by Cards catcher Yadier Molina in the eighth frame, Molina has a cannon and it marked the 45th time in his career that he has picked a runner off first!  The Molina brothers are surely very good defensive catchers, ( older brother Benji catches for the San Francisco Giants and younger brother Jose catches for the New York Yankees).

J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin pitched the eighth inning, Romero was touched for a single before getting a strikeout.  He was pulled in favor of Durbin with right handed hitters coming up for the Cards.  Durbin came in a coaxed a double play ground ball from Joe Mather to end the inning.  He threw nothing but sliders to Mather as the young man looks like a dead red fast ball hitter.  The double play was key as it left Albert Pujols standing in the on deck circle!

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning and earned his 27th save of the year.  He struck out two batters in the inning.  The Phillies are 49 and 0 when leading after eight innings this year.  Lidge is perfect in save chances this year.  Big win for the Fightins as they struggled offensively but the pitching came thru big time!

Chatter

Rudy Seanez was put on the disabled list prior to the Cardinal series and left hander Les Waldron was recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley.  Waldron has previous big league experience with the Cubs and Royals, seventeen games in total, most recently with Chicago in 2006.  Despite a right handed starter on the hill for the Cards skipper Charlie Manuel chose to play Jayson Werth in right field rather than left handed swinger Geoff Jenkins.   It is not a pure platoon and many times Charlie seems to play a hunch as to whom starts or even pinch hits in situations.  He catches alot of flak when it doesn’t work but few accolades when it does! 

Kyle Kendrick took the hill for the Fightins in the last game of the three game series against the Nationals in Washington.  Kendrick was staked to an early three run lead as Jayson Werth belted his 15th home run of the season to lead off the second inning.  Eric Bruntlett then singled as did Carlos Ruiz.   Bruntlett scored on a ground out by Jimmy Rollins and Ruiz scored on a error by the Nats Ryan Zimmerman.

The Nationals scored single runs in the third and fourth frames to tighten the score.  Jimmy Rollins belted a two run home run in the fourth frame to widen the gap once again. The Phillies put the game away with three more runs in the sixth highlighted by RBI singles for Ryan Howard and  Pat Burrell.

Kendrick pitched six and 2/3 innings before yielding  to Clay Condrey.  Condrey completed the inning and pitched the eighth, Rudy Seanez started the ninth frame but relinquished two runs and was pulled in favor of Chad Durbin who finished the game by getting the final out.   Nationals Park marked the 47th park that Seanez has pitched in during his journeyman career.

The Mets were idle so with the win the Phillies expanded their lead in the division to one full game.  The Marlins pounded the Rockies so they remain one and 1/2 games off the pace.

 Chatter

The trade deadline came and went with no activity for the Phillies.  Manny was indeed dealt by Boston but to the Dodgers.  The Phillies have yet to play the Dodgers this season and have eight games left with L.A. so they will have to deal with Ramirez for a good portion of their remaining games.  I assume that J.A. Happ will see innings out of the pen and provides insurance if one of the starters stumbles.   Adam Eaton pitched at Single A Lakewood and did not have a great line score as he only lasted thru four innings.  He may indeed be the most expensive minor leaguer in history !   The Phillies will keep their eyes open for waiver wire deals, remember that two years ago Jamie Moyer was acquired via that path.

When Cole Hamels takes the hill for the Phillies one usually expects a quality start.  This one appeared to be no different thru three frames as Hamels allowed no Brave runs to score.  The Phillies spotted their ace to a three run lead when they scored twice in the second inning as Chris Coste singled with two outs to score Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell.  Howard had reached on a walk and Burrell had followed with a double.    The third run scored in the third inning as Shane Victorino tripled and Chase Utley scored him on a sacrifice fly.

Things got ugly for Hamels however in the fourth inning as the Braves plated nine runs!  Included in the inning were errors by Hamels and Utley that in effect made only four of the runs earned but Hamels was hit hard as he allowed five hits in the inning including a three run home run by Mark Teixeira.  Hamels was far from “ace like” in this one as he was chased after three and two thirds innings.

The FIghtins were true to their name however as they did not hang their heads and call it in.  They put up a seven spot in the fifth inning to regain the lead.  The Phillies brought ten batters to the plate in the inning.  Key blows in the inning were two out hits by Chris Coste and Greg Dobbs.  Coste delivered a single to right to score Ryan Howard and keep the inning alive.  Dobbs then smoked a three run home run to put the Phillies ahead by one!  This team has not shown any dog in them and the innning was a true reflection of team character!

The Phillies bullpen dominated their part of the contest.  Atlanta was held scoreless by Rudy Seanez, Adam Eaton, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge.  Eaton was credited with the win while Madson, Durbin and Romero all earned holds.  Lidge earned his 23rd save and set a new team record by converting 23 consecutive save opportunities breaking the old mark set by Billy Wagner when he was a Phillie. 

Chatter

Eric Bruntlett started the game at third as Pedro Feliz again sat out with back pain.  Greg Dobbs got his 20th pinch hit of the season, a game winner at that.  Dobbs has been excellent all year at hitting in the pinch.   In order for Hamels to be a real staff ace he cannott implode in games like this one, he has dominated the Braves thus far this season but lost his composure in this one as he even errored on a throw himself trying to force a play.  I think he is an extreme talent but is still young and we fans must be patient with his continued development.   Joe Blanton takes his second turn in the rotation tommorrow in the series finale.