Jamie Moyer was back to form on Sunday as he tossed six innings in leading the Phillies to a 4-2 win over the Nationals and a series sweep.   Moyer had excellent command in this game as he limited the Nationals to only three hits while striking out four thru his stint of work.   Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson earned holds in the game by each pitching one innning of relief and Brad Lidge saved his 12th of the season and 3rd of the series with a perfect ninth inning aided by a spectacular play on a ground ball up the middle corraled by Chase Utley who pivoted and threw a one hopper that Ryan Howard dug out to end the game just before the hitter crossed the bag!

Chris Coste hit his second home run of the season in the game for the Fightins, in fact Coste had two hits in the game.  Chase Utley also had a two hit game, RBI’s were earned by Howard, Coste, Utley and Pedro Feliz.   With the win the Phillies maintain their slim 1/2 game lead over the Metropolitans for first place in the N.L. East.    The Phillies now hit the road for 10 games including a west coast stint to San Diego and LA.

Chatter

As I suspected the Phillies will recall Antonio Bastardo from Triple A Lehigh Valley to take injured Brett Myer’s spot in the starting rotation on Tuesday in San Diego, no big deal in that he will face Jake Peavy in his big league debut!   The month of June is a tough stretch for the Phillies this season, they start with 10 road games thru San Diego, LA and then in New York with the Mets and then are home for 9 interleague games with Boston, Toronto and Baltimore before ending the month on the road with 7 games against Tampa, Toronto and Atlanta.   In the mix of that schedule are off days every monday with the exception of tommorrow in San Diego.   The Fightin’s did not fare so well with interleague play last season as I recall they lost every interleague series, this will be a good stretch to gage how well the boys are gonna do this season!  

The Phillies lost the most recent three game series against the Florida Marlins in what has become the not so friendly confines of Citizen’s Bank Park in 2009.   The Marlins took two of the three games and sunk the Phillies home record to 9 wins and 14 losses.   Home Cooking has to improve if the boys are gonna have any chance of repeating.

Game 1 – Monday, May 25th – Florida 5 Phillies 3

Jamie Moyer made his fifth attempt to gain career win number 250 and once again came up short.  Moyer did not pitch badly as he went six innings and limited the Marlins to four runs on seven hits.   The only problem was that Chris Volstad was better for Florida.   Ryan Howard accounted for all three of the Phillie runs as he blasted two home runs giving him 12 for the season.  Pedro Feliz also had a two hit game but the duo accounted for two thirds of the Phillies offense as they could only muster a total of six hits.  Chan Ho Park pitched well in relief for the Phillies as he tossed the final three frames but the Fightin’s came up short in this one.  Ex Phillie Wes Helms had a huge game offensively for the Marlins as he homered and knocked in four of the five runs.

Game 2 – Tuesday, May 26th – Phillies 5 Florida 3

Joe Blanton was dominant in this game as he had by far his best outing in a Phillie jersey.  Blanton threw shutout ball thru seven innings and struck out 11 batters, a new career high.  He limited the Marlins to only five hits and also only walked two batters.  Blanton attacked the strike zone in this one with little regard for the hitters as he trusted his stuff and it worked very well!   Offensively Shane Victorino had a big day as he collected four hits and Pedro Feliz stayed hot by stroking another two hits.   The game got interesting in the ninth as Chad Durbin loaded the bases with only one out and forced skipper Charlie Manuel  to go to closer Brad Lidge after the Marlins scored three runs.  Lidge was given a very warm reception by the fans as he entered the game and did the job as he recorded the final two outs to earn his ninth save.   He is the closer and Charlie has made it very clear that it will remain that way, that is the beauty of the skipper and of this team, they do not panic and stay the course even if sometimes the fans divert course!

Game 3 – Wednesday, May 27th – Florida 6 Phillies 2

Brett Myers started the game and pitched effectively thru five frames but was knocked out in the sixth.   It was later reported that Myers left the game due to soreness and discomfort in his hip, he has been pitching very well lately and an injury is not something the team can really afford at this point.   Myers was tagged for home runs by Dan Uggla and Cody Ross and gave up five runs.   Old reliable Clay Condrey took the hill after Myers and held the Marlins at bay for two and 1/3 innings.   The Phillies struggled offensively as they tallied eight hits, two of which were off the bat of Ryan Howard.  Matt Stairs blasted a solo pinch hit home run to right field in the home eighth.  Jack Taschner gave up the sixth run in the ninth and is the most likely candidate to be released at this point when J.C. Romero returns to the active roster on June 3rd.

Chatter

Rumblings are that the Phillies are very interested in acquiring another starting pitcher.  If Brett Myers is indeed injured and goes on the disabled list then that search may intensify.  Names being bandied about as potential acquisitions are Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn of the Mariners,  Jason Marquis of the Rockies, Brad Penny and perhaps Clay Bucholtz of the Red Sox and Roy Oswalt of the Astros.   Any of those trades would require the Phillies to give up a portion of the minor league talent they have accumulated, folks like Jason Donald, Lou Marson, Carlos Carrasco, Sergio Escalona, Joe Savery, Kyle Drabek, Drew Carpenter, etc.  would have to be dangled so G.M. Ruben Amaro must be cognizant of not mortgaging the entire future.  It is refreshing though that the team realizes they have a great nucleaus and is willing to go for it now!  Time will tell what happens.   Keep in mind also that old standbys like Paul Byrd and Pedro Martinez are also still out there as free agents.   Oswalt would be my choice if you could get him but the others would be very good additions as well.  Reports are that the team does not plan to sign Myers this offseason so whomever they might trade for would be figured into 2010 plans as well.

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!

Jamie Moyer took the ball in NYC in hopes of earning the 250th win of his marvelous career, instead he was pounded for seven runs on seven hits in only 2 and 1/3 innings of work and ended up losing his second game of the season.   Mike Pelfrey pitched seven innings for the Mets to up his record to 4 and 0.   The good news in this one was the work of the Phillies bullpen as J.A. Happ, Clay Condrey and Jack Taschner pitched scoreless ball in relief of Moyer.  The bad news is that an early hole was dug too deep for the Phillie offense to climb back from. 

The Fightin’s did battle back to make it a game as Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth each belted home runs in the contest.   Werth led the Phillie offense as he went 4 for 4 at the plate, Howard had a two hit game as in total the Phillies matched the Met offensive output of ten hits.  It was the early Met onslaught that cost the Phillies the loss however and one certainly has to be concerned with the inadequacy of the starting pitching thus far.  This team will score runs with anybody but if our starters continually put the team in a hole then the battle will wear the team down both from bullpen overuse and team morale.  Let’s hope that the starting pitching can turn it around soon.

Chatter

Danny Ozark, the Phillies skipper from the mid 70′s passed away today at the age of 85.  The “Wizard of Oze” as he was known came to the Phillies from the L.A. Dodgers where he was a long time third base coach for the great Walter Alston.  Ozark was a father figure type that inherited a young Phillie nucleaus including the likes of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and nurtured and taught them how to be a team and win.  Ozark’s teams won multiple Division titles back when there were only two in in each league but failed to make it the World Series…. the Big Red Machine and Dodgers had alot to do with that !   Ozark was eventually dismissed in favor of Dallas Green who led the team to it’s first world championship in 1980.  Ozark was the 1970′s version of Charlie Manuel, the difference being that Charlie won a championship and “the Wiz” did not.  He was a good man by all accounts and may he rest in peace. 

Johan Santana is widely regarded as the best starting pitcher in baseball, last evening he proved once again why he has such recognition.  Santana held the very potent Phillies offense to just two hits and no runs thru seven innings of work enroute to his fourth victory of the season.  He struck out ten hitters in the seven frames and dazzled batters with his array of fastballs, sliders and changeups.  Santana can throw any of those pitches for a strike at any count and all are above average pitches, he is a tough guy to beat and is the primary reason why the Mets should stay in contention throughout the season.

Chan Ho Park matched Santana thru six frames as he pitched shutout baseball allowing the Mets only one hit!  Park pitched agressive in the strike zone like he did in spring training and the results were comparable.  It was definitely his best outing as a Phillie and if he can bottle that approach will easily be a double digit game winner for this team.

The Phillies could only amass three hits in total in the game as Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriquez closed out the game for the Mets.  There was only one run scored in the contest, a seventh inning unearned run scored by Dan Murphy for the New Yorkers.   Shane Victorino extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a baseknock. 

Bottom line in this one is that the Fightin’s just ran up against an extreme talent and competitor, Santana exemplifies the same bulldog approach and tenacity that the Fightin’s used to win a World Championship last season, hats off to him, sometimes you just gotta say the other guy beat ya!

Chatter

I realize the Citizen’s Bank Park is very hitter friendly but whomever laid out Citi Field went to the extreme opposite approach!  415 in the power alleys is a long way and 383 to right is crazy!  This park is a double/triple extravaganza,  Jose Reyes should have 30 freaking triples playing here!  Better have a centerfielder who can cover alot of ground in this yard else you are in trouble……….reminds me of Coors Field in Colorado without the thin air.   Watched the Met fans in the stands last night and I don’t see a distinctive difference between them and us Phillie fans, they live and die with the team and are very intuitive into the game.  Carlos Delgado was given a Bronx cheer last night when he caught a pop up, he doffed his cap to the fans……..Delgado had dropped one the night before against Atlanta!  The Phillies-Mets rivalry is a good one but I think that the fans are more intense about it than the teams, don’t get the sense that the ballplayers dislike each other like the Yanks/BoSox thing spills over, perhaps just me.

Ryan Howard is having a great year thus far with the glove, gold glove worthy!  He made a diving stop last night on a hard ground ball and a terrific flip to Park covering first but Chan Ho dropped it!  Last year I don’t think the big man would have even gotten to it, the work he did this offseason and spring with coach Sam Perlozzo has certainly paid off!

Jamie Moyer takes the hill tonight looking for career win 250, my boy Eric and his buddy are gonna be in attendance tonight in NYC!  Eric is a diehard Mets fan which goes to prove that we can coexist!

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.

The Phillies came into this weekend’s three game series with Florida staggering a bit with a record of 6 wins and 8 losses coming off two straight series losses at home.   The offense was stagnant till the friday night ninth inning wakeup call where they scored seven runs.   On Saturday night they faced another of the Marlin’s young stud starters in Chris Volstad.    Volstad threw seven strong innings and left with a 4 to 3 lead.  The Marlin bullpen, however, once again blew the game as the Phillies tied the game in the ninth and won it in the tenth !   Big late game hits were delivered by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Matt Stairs and Raul Ibanez.   Ibanez is a true pro hitter and continues to be impressive in his game approach and delivery.   Chan Ho Park belted a solo home run early in the game and actually threw a nice game going seven innings while allowing four runs.

Ryan Madson picked up the win in relief and Brad Lidge earned his fourth save of the season albeit a bit shakey in the outing. 

On Sunday afternoon Jamie Moyer continued his dazzlement of the youthful Marlins as he tossed six innings to earn his third win of the young season.  The Phillies jumped on Florida starter Graham Taylor and knocked him out in the fourth inning.  Shane Victorino had a big offensive day out of the leadoff spot driving in four runs with two hits.  Ryan Howard had a two hit ballgame and Pedro Feliz had three hits in the game.  Chad Durbin and J.A. Happ finished up behind Moyer to close out the victory. 

With the sweep the Phillies increased the early season record to 9 and 8.  Florida has lost six straight and is now 11 and 7.

Chatter

It is true that the Marlins have great young starting pitching but they are lacking in the little things of the game, baserunning, fielding and common baseball sense are all things they severely lack in.   It is a reflection of having a young team that learns the trade in the major leagues rather than at the minor league level.  It is why, in my opinion, they will not win over the long haul of the season. 

Kudo’s to my son, Nolan, for completing his college baseball career this weekend.  He set a school record with 19 appearances this season as a pitcher including throwing in three consecutive games this weekend.  His final college game was an eight inning effort as a starter on Saturday, this after throwing two and 1/3 innings on Friday and 1/3 of an inning in game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday.  He is a tough minded young man, not afraid of any situation or obstacle and always  the ultimate team player………. as his dad I am indeed very proud.  Good job Nolan !

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 !  

Raul Ibanez hammered a walk off home run on Sunday afternoon scoring Ryan Howard in front of him to give the Phillies a come from behind 5 to 4 win.  The Padres had built up a 4 to 0 lead but home runs by Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, ( a pinch hit for J-Roll, his first pinch hit bomb in his career), brought the Fightins back to within one.

Chan Ho Park pitched better in this game, his second start of the season, but still gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings of work.  J.A. Happ threw three scoreless innings in relief and Clay Condrey picked up the mound win with a scoreless ninth inning of work.

Ryan Howard had three hits in the game and Ibanez had two.  Howard is hitting .386 in the early going.

Chatter

Monday’s game was postponed due to rain, it will be made up later in the season.. San Diego thus will have to make another trip to Philadelphia as they were only scheduled to be here this one time this season.  Carlos Ruiz is eligible to come off the disabled list next week and will probably begin his rehab assignment this coming  weekend in the minor leagues.  Jamie Moyer will take the hill tommorrow night at Citizen’s Bank Park against the Milwaukee Brewers.