With 24 games remaining on the schedule and trailing by two games in the Division race one could surmise that every game is a “must win”!   That being said the Fightins sent their ace Cole Hamels to the hill to attempt halting the Nationals seven game winning streak and win this one for the Phils.

The Phillies drew first blood as consecutive singles by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley plated two runs in the third inning.  The inning ended however on a sad note as National catcher Jesus Flores was carted off the field on a stretcher after a bang bang play resulted in a collision between him and Utley. Utley had broken for the plate on a pickoff attempt at first base and was attempting to jar the ball loose from Flores as Nat first basemen Ron Belliard’s throw beat him by plenty at the plate.  It appeared Flores suffered an injury to his ankle.

Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz led off the Phillie seventh with singles, both were sacrificed to scoring position by Cole Hamels.   Jimmy Rollins plated Feliz with a single to right field and Ruiz scored on a groundout by Chase Utley to make the score 4 to 0. 

Cole Hamels pitched 7 and 1/3 innings, once again a quality start.  He ran out of gas in the eighth inning as Washington put two runners on with a walk and a single.  Charlie went to his pen and brought in J.C. Romero.  Romero struck out left handed hitter Willie Harris and then Manuel called in Chad Durbin.  Durbin did his job in the inning as well as he got Ryan ZImmerman to ground out to short and end the inning.  Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning to close the game.

Chatter

Three additional roster additions were made as Mike Cervenak, Andy Tracy and Les Walrond were all recalled from Triple A Lehigh Valley.  All three have been on the roster for various stints this season.  Jason Donald from Double A Reading is also likely to be recalled as well as soon as the Reading season concludes.   The extra players give skipper Manuel more flexibility with his bench and bullpen.   Chase Utley was visibly upset when Flores was carted off, Utley plays as hard as any player in the bigs but he is not dirty nor does he want to hurt anyone.  His only play to be safe at the plate was to jar the ball loose and he made the right play…………. hope that Flores is ok.  National fans booed Utley in his plate appearances after the play, no class, no clue.

Question

How big do you believe it is that Cole Hamels takes the ball Sunday against New York rather than get an extra day off between starts and face Florida on Monday ?   Pitching on Sunday would give Hamels four days rest and would be his regular rest, Kyle Kendrick would get skipped over to accomplish this.

When the offensive portion of a team is in a funk like the Phillies are then other ways need to be found in order to win.  In this game the Fightins found a way.  Jimmy Rollins set the tone early as he legged out an infield single in the game’s first at bat.  He then stole second base, went to third on an errant throw by the San Diego catcher and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth.   Cole Hamels made that early lead hold up thru five innings as he handcuffed the Padres and shut them out.

Pat Burrell slammed his 29th home run of the season in the visitor’s sixth inning to give Hamels a bit of a cushion.   San Diego did score in the bottom six but Hamels would deny them any more as he went eight strong turning a one run lead over to premier closer Brad Lidge.  Lidge struck out the side and earned his 30th save in as many tries updating the Fightin’s record to a perfect 55 and 0 when leading after eight innings!   A must win was gained to keep the team two games off the pace for the Eastern Division title.

Chatter

The team won the San Diego series two games to one, in the middle game Kyle Kendrick was wild and got shelled for a second consecutive outing in a 8 to 3 loss.   The team has an off day today and then begins a HUGE nine game homestand starting with three against the Nationals.  They then must pay back the Dodgers as the Hollywood crew comes in for four games and lastly there are two with the Mets.   While the Mets have won six straight they have been against the likes of the Nationals and Pirates, they now embark on a seven game homestand of thier own taking on the Braves for four whom they have struggled with thus far and the Astros for three, Houston swept the Metropolitans in Houston the last time they met.  I think this topsy turvey race is far from over and each week brings different paths forward !

Hopefully the boo bird fans do not shower J-Roll with their collective affection this week, let’s take his comments as a challenge to be even more supportive and step up like we want our Fightin’s to do! Nobody wins with the negativity stuff !   Rudy Seanez is back off the disabled list and was available in the Padre series, Mike Cervenak was optioned back to triple A.  Pedro Feliz may come off the D.L. as early as Wednesday. 

Let’s go Fightins !  We are in a race, much more exciting this way than in many years past!   Lets get at ‘em and collectively get this thing done, what’s the worst that can happen, we lose?  Been there before and no one died from it!   Winning is much sweeter though, let’s taste that drink once again!

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. 

Jamie Moyer came into his starting assignment against the Florida Marlins with a perfect 10 and 0 record against the Fish, odds were that things would change.  Moyer struggled with his command in this one from the beginning and the young Marlin hitters showed more patience in their approach against the crafty veteran. The home plate umpire also did not give him the close pitches he normally gets called as strikes.

The Marlins scored first on a bases loaded walk issued by Moyer to Jeremy Hermida in the second inning.   They added a second run in the fourth inning as Hermida scored on a ground out by Josh Willingham.  Moyer’s night was complete after five innings as he left trailing by the 2-0 score, a credit to his persistence that it was not more, he stranded nine Marlin runners on base.

Florida right hander Josh Johnson shut out the Phillies thru six innings yielding only five hits, the hardest a sixth inning double off the top of the left field wall by Pat Burrell.   The Marlins scored two more runs in the top of the seventh as Alfredo Amezaga singled to knock in Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla. 

The Phillies got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh as Shane Victorino was credited with a two run home run off the left field foul pole that the TV replay actually showed was a foul ball that never indeed hit the pole!  Marlins third basemen Jorge Cantu argued the call and the umpires conferred but third base umpire Dale Scott’s call was allowed to stand.  

J.A. Happ made his relief debut for the Fightins in the eighth inning and gave up a run as Jeremy Hermida drove in Hanley Ramirez with a single, Ramirez had walked and advanced to second on a passed ball.  He was lit up for three more in the ninth as the Marlins busted the game open.  Happ threw close to 50 pitches in his two innings of work.  

Chatter

Les Walrond made his Phillies debut in the seventh inning and struck out the first batter he faced before yielding two walks and the Amezaga hit that plated two runs.  Mike Cervenak made his second pinch hitting appearance in the fifth and flied out to deep left field.  The game could have been more lopsided earlier if the Marlins had not continually run into outs on the bases.  The achilles heel for the young Fish would appear to be their defense and baserunning abilities, they certainly hit the ball well enough!   It seemed as if the Phillies were never destined to win this one as they hit into three line drive double plays in key spots.   Need to come back tommorrow strong and put this one behind.  The home game marked the 35th sellout of the season.

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.

Brett Myers pitched seven strong innings yielding only one unearned run as the Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 2 to 1 in Washington.  Chase Utley provided Myers all the run support he would need as he popped a two run home run to right field in the third inning scoring Jimmy Rollins who had reached base on a single.  Myers only allowed four hits to the light hitting Nationals.   J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin collectively pitched the eighth inning to earn holds.  Brad Lidge pitched the ninth inning to earn his 25th save of the season.

Pat Burrell and Utley each had two hits in the game as Nationals starter Collin Ballester pitched six strong innings as well and combined with his bullpen to limit the Fightins to only eight hits.  With the Mets also winning the Phillies kept pace 1/2 game behind the New Yorkers in the National League East standings.

Chatter

Adam Eaton was optioned to Triple A on the off day prior to this contest.  Left hander J.A. Happ was added to the major league roster.  Pedro Feliz was placed on the 15 day disabled list prior to the game and infielder Mike Cervenak was recalled to replace him.  Rumors still circulate about potential trades for the Phillies, Manny Ramirez, Ron Mahay, Jason Bay, John Grabor, Arthur Rhodes, etc. are amongst the names mentioned as potentials coming to the club.  It is a wait and see as the deadline is 4 pm on 7/31.  Rumblings are that Cole Hamels has a small fracture in his left elbow. Also that Chase Utley may have an injured hip.  If either were to miss extensive time the team would indeed be in serious trouble!

Greg Olsen who in times past has stated he hates the Philies had just enough to gain a win in the second game of this three game set.   He pitched five innings giving up four runs on eight hits which was hardly a stellar performance but enough to outlast Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick who struggled in this outing.  Kendrick only pitched four and one third innings giving up seven runs on ten hits.  Kendrick gave up home run blasts to John Baker, Jeremy Hermedia and Dan Uggla.  Kendrick was unable to spot his sinker and paid the price accordingly.  He is a pitcher who really only has one effective pitch and when failing to locate usually has difficulty.

Pat Burrell had a good offensive game for the Fightins as he blasted two home runs giving him 25 on the season.  Burrell also had a double in the contest.  Clay Condrey and Ryan Madson pitched scoreless relief for the Philies but Rudy Seanez was touched for two runs in the eighth inning.

The series concludes with a Sunday Matinee in which team ace Cole Hamels will take the hill for the Fightins.

Chatter

Speculation still abounds that the team will acquire a left handed reliever prior to the trade deadline.  John Grabow of the Pirates seems to be the least costly and most attainable.  Rumors still swirl that Brian Fuentes is a possibility from Colorado.  New addition Joe Blanton was added to the active roster and Joe Bisenius was optioned to triple A.   Brett Myers is slated to rejoin the team as well during the coming week and the team most likely will go back to carrying 12 pitchers on the roster, the most likely option candidate is infielder Mike Cervenak.

One day after helping the Phillies end a four game losing skid rookie left hander J.A. Happ was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley. The reasoning is that with the all star break upcoming the big league club will not need a fifth starter until July 23rd when they face the Mets in New York. It is very possible that Happ might be recalled to start that day but in the interim the team wants him to pitch in a regular rotation at the Triple A level rather than sitting.

Called up to replace Happ on the roster was infielder Mike Cervenak. Cervenak is a thirty two year old right hand hitter who was batting .310 at Lehigh with 7 home runs and 52 rbi’s in 90 games. This is his first opportunity to play in the big leagues. Prior experiences include a stint in the Korean Baseball League. He was drafted in the 43rd round by the Oakland A’s in the 1998 player draft and is a graduate of Michigan State University. He will provide pinch hitting off the bench and can play both first and third base. The move leaves the Phillies with 11 active pitchers on the roster and 14 position players.

While a somewhat curious move from the perspective that Adam Eaton struggled in his last start the team feels that Eaton is a better option as the fourth starter than Happ at this point……….perhaps a sign that a trade is brewing ?