Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Game 132 Phillies @ Reds

I love seeing the Reds stadium. The smokestacks in the outfield area look great.
Well they are actually steam stacks meant to simulate a steam boat.
The top of each stack has seven bats each a total of fourteen to honor Pete Rose, his number was 14.

I really like the red seats, they look great on tv and I can't wait till I get to see them in person some day.

I wish the Phils did red seats and not those dull looking blue seats.

Hunter Pence just hit his seventh home run as a Phil. He "Tommy hawked" a ball over the opposite field wall.
Dontrelle Willis is pitching for the Reds and he's looking pretty good tonight.
Has a bunch of K's including two for Howard.
The Phils loaded the bases with only one out in the first but only got one run on a ground out from Howard.
After six innings both teams only have four hits each but Cliff Lee has spread out the Red's hits better.

Willis is out with two outs in the seventh. Got a nice hand from the tiny crowd there.
He pitched a decent game but the Phils just impose their will on teams sometimes and they are doing it tonight
and the first three games of this series.

Whoa, that ninth inning was wacky. Lee looks headed for his sixth shut out is year, he gets the first two outs but Votto doubles, Bruce walked then on an 0-2 pitch he hits Cairo.
So bases loaded two outs.
Lee is out of the game. Madson comes in and gets the save.

Yikes they had the winning run at the plate. That was just an unlucky ninth for Lee.

18th shut out this season.
Cliff Lee threw 8.2 scoreless innings. 30.2 straight scoreless innings on the road.
Lee went 5-0 with a 0.21 ERA in June and 5-0 with a 0.45 ERA in August to join Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson as the only three pitchers in baseball history to be 5-0 with an ERA under 1.00 in two separate months in the same season.
Gibson in 1968: June (6-0, 0.50 ERA) and July (6-0, 0.50 ERA).
Johnson in 1913: April (5-0, 0.24 ERA) and July (6-0, 0.81 ERA).

Odd play in the fourth. Lee hit a grounder to second but in stead of running it out he waved it off and turned and walked to the dugout.

The Phils are 40 games over .500 for the first time since 1977.
The 19th shut out the season.

Home/Road
Split W L RS RA WP
Home 46 22 321 211 .676
Road 40 24 275 218 .625

Month by Month
Split W L RS RA WP
April 18 8 120 88 .692
May 16 13 107 104 .552
June 17 10 102 71 .630
July 17 8 138 94 .680
August 18 7 129 72 .720


Win 3-0
last ten 6-4
After Pence 20-7
Division up 7.5
Magic number 22
Record 86-46

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Game 131 Phillies @ Reds

Phils go down meekly in the first, well Utley did get a cheap bloop hit.

Then as usual Halladay gave up a hit to the first batter again. Then Renteria flys out and Halladay walks Votto.

Doesn't look like the eight day rest has helped Roy. I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't win this game and pitch like a Cy Young candidate.
Now he walked Votto it's only the 24th walk he has given up and now two straight.
Ron Culpa has a small zone so far.

2-0 to Jay Bruce, I don't like the way this is going.
Wow he just murdered a ball that went well out but was about ten feet foul.

I've been wondering if he has a dead arm thing but he did just have those 8 days since his last start.

Struck out Bruce on a back foot curve ball that was a ball.

Roy got Miguel Cairo to bounce one right to him so he gets out of the inning but it was a struggle.

Fourth inning the phillies finally break through. Utley slaked then Howard broke a Phillies record with a home run.
Most consecutive seasons of 100 RBI's at six.

That homer was only two rows deap but it was a very high home run.
They really opened it up in the sixth. A Pence homer then they get the bases loaded for Halladay.
He still doesn't have an RBI. Well now he has three after the bases clearing double.

Bronson Arroyo looks to be headed to 1-7 against the Phils.

Roy gave up a hit to start the game and here in the seventh still no more hits.

Ibanez just got his third hit, a home run to give them an 8-0 lead. A quick line drive over near the foul pole in right.

The eighth for the Reds is interesting. A leadoff double, then a walk and a hit batter, bases loaded no outs.
Halladay got out of it. Two strikeouts then a ground out.

Great outing by Halladay after that very shaky first inning.


Lidge pitched the eighth and didn't screw anything up so that was good.

The icing on the cake was a one out bolt by Howard for his 29th home run.
The Braves lost tonight some pick up two on the magic number.
Team shut out number 18.
14-3 last 17 road games.

Win 9-0
Last ten 7-4
After Pence 19-7
Division 7.5 up
Magic number 23
Record 85-46











Game 130 Phila @ Cincinatti

Thanks to hurricane Irene they haven't played since Friday night. They lost that game so a one game writes loss becomes a series loss.

Anyway tonight started a stretch to the end of the season of 33 games in 31 days.

Another standard game with no flash this team is all business even when they lose.

Hamels came off the DL tonight to start first time in over two weeks.
He pitched six innings and was sharp. Would have had a shut out for six innings except for the fly ball that Pence played into a triple with no outs. He over ran a ball then slipped when he tried to catch it. Only gave up two hits and struck out seven.

The Phils tied it in the fifth and took the lead for good when Victorino hit a two run homer.

Bastardo pitched In the seventh which I thought was odd and Stutes in the eighth, also odd.
Madson got the save.

I'm glad Hamels is back and I hope he is as good as he looked tonight. They need him to make up for Oswalt who is really an unknown at this point.

Halladay tomorrow on 8 days rest then Lee after that also on a long break because of all the rain lately.

Win 3-2
Last ten 6-4
After Pence 18-7
Division 6.5 up
Magic number 25
Record 84-46

Friday, August 26, 2011

Game 129 Fish @ Phils

Marlins get a cheap first inning run.
A few bloop hits and Another error by the fill-in shortstop. I think this is the third straight game the fill in has erred. And think each time has led to a run, maybe not, not sure.

On the Phils side the marlins pitcher is throwing a 65 mph curve ball and two outs I tomthe second the Phils are already looking stupid, swinging at balls way off the plate.

Finally, Valdez just hit a 1-1 pitch in his eyeballs out to tie the game.

Oswalt is getting hit hard. If Victorino wasn't able to run down to deep fly balls this game would be much worse then it is right now.
Stanton just hit a ball so hard that it went by Pence on a hop and pence was standing right next to the spot were the ball hit.
Then Dobbs doubles him in for his second hit already.

Can anyone tell me why Ryan Howard still only has 26 home runs?

They just walked the 8- hole hitter to set up a force with the pitcher up but Oswalt crossed up Ruiz and threw a wild pitch moving both runners up. He grounds to Polanco who would have had an easy force at third but because of the wild pitch he throws to first and it's a pretty close play.

The Phils need to snap out of it. They have been really average the last week and a half or two weeks. They almost looked bored.

The Phils aren't doing anything maybe because the Marlins pitcher is throwing a 65 mph curve ball. Oswalt has been letting base runners on the whole game and is maybe a pitch or two from letting the Marlins blow the game open.
Hensler, his 1-5 record and nearly 6 era has only given up one hit through five.

I sure hope they have someone up in the pen because Oswalt just gave up three hits in a row to start the top,of the sixth, bases loaded no outs.
The Phils sure don't look like they plan on getting any more runs tonight so this is trouble.

And there it is, like I said one pitch away from this game getting blown open. John Buck just hit a grand slam and just like that it's 6-1.

Polanco gets a standing ovation for getting the Phils second hit with two outs in the sixth.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Then Utley doubles but for some reason Polanco couldn't score even with him running on two outs.

I guess they're gonna have a losing streak for the first time in a long time.

Ryan Howard is up. Why don't I expect him to do much here?
I guess I reversed jinxed it, just as I typed that he homered now it's 6-4. HR off a left hander.

Pence gets an infield single.
It's about time in this game they showed a heart beat.

Hope it's not too little too late.
Rally still going.
Mayberry smoked a ball off the shortstops glove that went all the way into the left field alley. Pence to third, Mayberry to second still 2 outs.
Ruiz is up.
He popped up.
Oh well they got to 6-4.
Can the pen Hold down the Mighty Marlins?

Hmm, Herndon strikes out Stanton but then Dobbs doubles. He has four hits in the games.
Herndon gets out of the inning and actually has a 12 inning scoreless streak.

At least the Mets are up 4-0 in the seventh and the Braves only have 1 hit and no walks.

Another two out rally going, eighth inning.
First and third after Polanco got on on an error. Howard struck out but that second strike was a ball. The third strike was a good call.
Then Pence gets the two out hit.
Mayberry takes a called third strike right down the middle to kill the rally.

On to the ninth.

Phils get a one out thing going. Raul single then Martinez doubles to knock one in, but Victorino pops out to right and Polanco dribbles out to short.

Dobbs has four hits the Phils can't get anything against the guy who is 1-5 now 2-5 and and era close to 6.
Good thing the Braves lost or the lead would only be 5.
Two game losing streak

------------------
Loss 6-5
Last twelve 6-6
After Pence 17-7
Division 6 up
Magic number 26
Record 83-46

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Game 128 Mets @ Phils

This one started ugly and stayed that way.
Pagan leads off with a hit against Kendrick, ok the next batter hits an easy dp right to Martinez at short, uh oh he dropped it, two runners on instead of two outs.
Another hit loads the bases. A force out scores a run. Bay strikes out then nick Evans a three run homer. Four runs al, unearned on an error at short that should have been a DP.
The Phils never were able to catch up. They got to 4-3 but that was it.
Kendrick gave up 6 runs only 2 earned and Schwimer gave up another homer.

The error led to all the runs in the first but Kendrick still gave up the three run homer.

Terrible game
Five Phil's relievers itched one inning each and except for the Schwimer homer that was it.
The Braves also lost so the lead stays 6.5

Loss 7-4
Last ten 6-4
After Pence 17-6
Division up 6.5
Magic number 27
Record 82-43

Game 127 Mets @ Phils

This one looked like it was going to be ugly early.
Mets in the first get runners on the corners but Polanco throws out Pagan at the plate and then Worley gets a strike out. He then walked
Bay but struck out the next guy.
Bases loaded one out, no runs. Good job.

The Second inning starts out even worse.
Second and third no outs.
Worley then gets three straight called third strike outs.
He is becoming an animal.

He settled down from there he retired about 14 in a row before a double in the seventh.
Ended up with seven innings pitched only five hits and one earned run.

Stutes pitched the last two innings and Stutes stunk. He gave up three earned runs and handed the Mets some momentum going into tomorrow's afternoon game.

Victorino and Mayberry homered. Mayberry's was a three run shot. He is officially on a roll.

Ben Francisco played and he even had three hits.

Win 9-4
Last ten 6-4
After Pence 17-5
Division up 6.5
Magic number 28
Record 83-44

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Game 126 Mets @ Phils

Cliff Lee tonight. He's trying to add his name to the Cy Young list.
He's already having a great August and he continued that tonight.

Lee Pitched 7 shut-out innings and scored a run after another hit.

Wilson singled playing for Rollins who is on the DL now, singled in Pence for the game's first run.
Lee singled and scored from first on a two-run triple by Victorino.
Lee is hitting .283 (13-for-46) with two doubles, two home runs, seven rbis and four runs scored since May 11th.

Mayberry hit a two-run homer in the third.
Since he was called up on July 5, Mayberry is he's .318 (27-for-85) with eight doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 26 RBIs. Of his last 31 hits, 20 are for extra bases.

Jimmy Rollins is on the DL because he pulled a groin muscle in his first ab yesterday so he's out for two weeks.

I wonder who gets called up.

Win 10-0
Last ten 6-4
After Pence 16-5
Division up 6.5
Magic number 29
Record 82-44

Game 125 Phils @ Nationals

That was irritating. I was at a party watching the game and In the top of the ninth with the Phils up 4-3, two outs and two strikes someone says, "so who's going to get credit for the win?"
I said, "not to jinx it but the new guy, Schwimer, is up for the win."

Well, the next pitch is knocked out of the park to tie the game. This is why I don't like watchng the game with a bunch of people who I don't know or don't usually watch the game with, some knucklehead always says something that annoys me or jinxes the game.
Usually it's "they stink" or " they're going to lose anyway" or just something stupid meant to tweak me or anyone else who is trying to watch the game.

The game felt off anyway. There was another long rain delay that knocked Halladay out after only five innings. He only gave up two runs but he gave up 7 hts and didn't look his usual self again.
Since that weird game in Chicago when he left the game from being over heated, he just hasn't been his great self. He just looms like he's struggling to keep the score close. Plus he gives up a bunch of hits, especially to the first batter in an inning and almost always the first batter of the game.

So after the rain delay Michael Schwimer makes his baseball debut. He gives up a center field bomb on his second pitch that ties the game and takes Halladay out of the decision.
Schwimmer then pitches three innings and only gives up one more hit and K's 4. Not too bad.

The Phils squeak out a run in the ninth for a 4-3 lead and Bastardo comes in gets two outs and then two strikes on .230 hitter Ian Desmond.
First the comment asking who gets the win followed by the game tying homer.

Phils go down meekly in the tenth and Lidge comes in.

Ryan Zimmerman hits a leadoff double. Lidge intentionally walked Michael Morse and Jayson Werth singles to load the bases with no outs.

Lidge struck out Espinosa for the first out, but hit Jonny Gomes on his heavily padded elbow to force in the winning run. Gomes never moved an inch.
It was the first time a Phillies pitcher hit a batter to knock in the winning run since Aug. 8, 1998 when Mark Leiter hit Richard Hidalgo at the Astrodome.

I guess Stutes was unavailable, I would have had him in there and not Lidge. I'm done with Lidge, he's got nothing left.
The Phils come into the series with only 2 blown saves and leave with a total of five including two in this game. Schwimer came in with the lead so his appearance counts as a blown save.

This also dropped their division lead to 6.5 games.

Loss 5-4
Last ten 6-4
After Pence 15-5
Division 6.5
Magic number 30
Record 81-44

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Game 124 Phils @ Nats

Roy Oswalt is back and the Phils are now the team of Four Aces again.

Oswalt hasnt had a good fastball since he hurt his back in April. Tonight he had it. He was over 90 into the 8th inning and reached 94 at least once.

He struck out a season-high 9 in eight scoreless innings, the most he had struck out since he struck out nine June 10, 2010, when he was still an Astro.

Mayberry started again and he was great.
Him, Ruiz and Rollins each had 2 hits and Rollins also had two RBI's.

The Nationals' best chance to score was in the bottom of the fourth, but Mayberry threw Zimmerman out at the plate with a perfect one hopper.

Wilson Valdez tripled and Pence hit his fourth homer as a Phil.

This was the largest crowd ever at Nationals Park, with 44,685 fans. Cole Hamels said 44,000 were Phillies fans.

Lannen with the loss is now 1-12 against the Phils.
The Phils now have 16 shut-outs as a team.

Win 5-0
Last ten 7-3
After Pence 15-4
division 7.5
Magic number 30
Record 81-43


Saturday, August 20, 2011

Game 123 Phils @ Nationals

For only the second time this season the Phils have a blown save.

Madson came in the ninth with a 4-2 lead and gave up a walk and a few hits and now the bases are loaded with one out.

You could really see this comg. The Phils got 7 hits and four runs in one inning and then only one hit the rest of the game.
While the Nats chipped away for. Couple of runs to get back in it.

The game started at the normal time but with Howard up the rains came and began a 2:22 minute rain delay.

Oswalt was going to start but Kendrick came in after the game restarted. Hernandez came back out for the Nats.

Madson is terrible in the ninth. He doesn't have control of his fastball or his change up.
He's missing spots and is the hitters. Now it's a full count, bases loaded and two outs. This is it.

And that was it. A game winning grand slam home run.
I guess that's going to happen during a season even to the team with the best record.

Whatever it is about the Nationals I don't know, the Phils always have a tough time with them.
For some reason thisgame doenst bug me as much a that loss to the diamondbacks the other day.

Now they're 3-3 last six games. Slump?

Loss 8-4
Last ten 6-4
After Pence 14-4
Record 80-43
Magic number is still 31
Division lead down to 7.5


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Game 122 Diamondbacks @Phils August 18th magic number 31

Just came back from a 2:17 rain delay. Too bad because Worley was pitching great. One hit in three innings and the Phils jumped to a 3-0 lead.
Herndon comes in so that should be interesting.

Mayberry hit a long homer off the foul poul in left to get the lead to 3-0.
Howard is out with a sore hand that he hurt yesterday.

It's the ninth inning now and so far it's been a relatively uneventful game aside from the Mayberry homer.

This a a really good series win for the Phils. The D-Backs came in with a six game win streak then won game one.

Tonight's win is the 80th of the season and put them an incredible 38 games over .500.
If they only go 20-20 in then last 40 games that is still 100 wins.

Too bad for Worley and that stupid rule that a starter has to go 5 full innings to get a win.

Win 4-1
Streak 2 wins
After Pence 14-3
Last ten 8-2
Record 80-42
Magic number 31

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Game 121 D-Backs @ Phils

Started off very good. 1-2-3 first for Cliff Lee then Rollins got his 37th career leadoff homer.
Then Lee gave up a two run homer.
Pence doubled to start the second and later scored but barely. On a single he came into third and slid into third for some reason but still had time to get up and come home.

He has pitched great since then.
Into the sixth inning they only have 2 hits but the Phils only have three.

Howard is really looking silly against lefties lately.
He's 0-2 with a strike out on another ball way off the plate and grounded out into double play on a weakly hit ball to second.

So it looks like Howard hurt his side on one of those stupid swing and misses in the sixth inning. He was walking around in the dugout after with a pained look on his face and now it looks like he went in the club house with the trainer.

The Phils picked up three runs in the seventh on a bunch of hits. Howard was in the in deck circle so maybe he is just tweaked a little.
Two of the runs came on a ball that Wilson Valdez smoked to the center field fence for a double. Then Ben Francisco hit a sac fly pinch hitting for Lee who had a great game tonight.

Howard comes out to hit in the eighth. He rips a leadoff single pas the short fielder in right on the shift.
They get 4 more runs and just blow it open in the eighth.

Madson comes in with the 9-2 lead because he hasn't pitched in a week.
Was a mild struggle but he closed it out for the non save.

Hunter Pence was 2-2 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored.
Trying to figure out the magic number. They have 41 games left and and 8.5 lead so that. Should make the number 32 I think.



Win 9-2
Streak 1 win
After Pence 13-3
Last ten 7-3
Last 16 13-3
Record 79-42








Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Game 120 Diamondbacks @ Phils magic number 34

After two days off due to a rain out and an off day they are back.

Halladay going for his 16th tonight.

After twice through the lineup the Phils finally got to the D's pitcher Collmenter.
With one out Rollins got on and then Victorino homered. They loaded the Bases after that but didn't get anything else.

Utley is 3-3 so far and Halladay just doubled for his second hit in the game and first career extra base hit.

The game started out looking ugly as they were swinging at curve balls way off the plate.
Howard and Pence are 5 K's in their first six ab's with an unintentional - intentional walk to Howard.

So Halladay leads off the seventh with a double, Rollins hits the pitcher that moves Halladay over to third now one out.
Victorino pops up.
They bring in a side-armer lefty to pitch to Utley, who strikesout.
Boooooo.

Going to the eighth up 2-1 out hitting the d-backs 8-5.
These guys can hit homers so they better be careful.

Roy just struck out the side in the eighth so he is still dealing.

Well Howard grounded out to start the eighth so at least he didn't strikeout. Then Pence singled after 3 K's in a row and Raul hits into a double play.
Here comes Roy for the complete game. Meat of the order coming up.
Upton looked stuck out but they didn't get the call then he singles, he'll probably steal second. Now another hit.
Might need to get Halladay out of there, this looks like a tie game in a minute.
Even a double play gets a runner to third.

If they bunt them over do the Phils walk to have a force at any base?

OH, he bunts it foul for a strike out.

Didn't matter. Lyle Overbay just smacked one off the wall to drive in two and give them the lead.
Ok two more K's for Halladay but he gives up two runs and they get a 3-2 lead.

I don't know why charlie left Halladay in for those last couple of hitters. Once he got the foul bunt strike out Madson should have been in there.

If they lose this game I give this one to Charlie for leaving Halladay in too long.

At least Ruiz leads off with a walk.

Sac bunt, Ruiz over to second.

Now it looks like the ump has expanded the strike zone.

The Phils are 66-1 when leading going into the ninth looks like number two coming up. The D-backs are undefeated. 62-0

Rollins takes two straight fastballs right down the middle to start. Struck him out.

This game tics me off. They had several chances to take Halladay out as it was obvious by the two hits to start the inning that he was cooked.

Charlie is completely to blame for this loss.

————

Loss 3-2
Streak 1 loss
After Pence 12-3
Last ten 7-3
Record





Saturday, August 13, 2011

Game 119 Nats @ Phillies

Roy Oswalt had his second start since coming back tonight.
Only 6 hits this time and three earned runs but he had a good fastball and was in control.

Ryan Howard had four more rbi's and continues to lead the league.
Pence has struggled a little the last few games. 0-2 but he did have two walks and a run scored.

The Nats had 3 errors tonight and the Phils had 7 un-earned runs. Last time with 7 unearned runs was May 5 1996 in Atlanta. the Reds have also done it this season.

In the eighth They got second and third with one out and 3-0 on Howard so they intentionally walked him to get to Pence and Pence singled in a run. I wonder how many times Pence has singled and gotten rbi's after Howard was walked.
Three extra runs in the eighth for good measure.

Stutes comes in for the last two innings and gave up a walk and a hit but nothing else, so a good bounceback game for him too.

Win 11-3
streak 1 win
After Pence 12-2
Last ten 8-2
Last twenty 15-5
Last Thirty 22-8
Division lead 8.5
Magic Number 32

Record 78-41


Friday, August 12, 2011

Game 118 Nats @ Phils

After two innings for Hamels he already three walks and three hits and gave up two runs, also has four K's. He is not sharp tonight and has been behind each hitter.

The '76 Phils were also 77-40 and got to 81- 42 before losing nine straight games and Then went 3-14 and the division lead went from 15.5 down to 4.

The '77 team was 77-45 but finished much stronger then the previous season. Both yearsnthey won 101 games.
At one point the '76 team was 41 games over .500 a franchise high.

Ok back to the game, the Phils got one back in the third so it's 2-1. Btw one of the hits was to Livan Hernandez the Nats pitcher, an RBI hit too.

The 1993 Phils hit 77-43 and finished at 97 same as the '10 Phils. The '10 Phils were 77-58 but won 11 straight a few games later.

Well after four innings the Phils have been very weak against Hernandez. Squeaked out the run but other then that nothing. Pence has mixed in two swinging strike outs on balls down and a foot out of the strike zone.

This team is 109-53 over the last 162 games.

Anyway tonight these guys are sleepwalking through this game.
Now the Nationals are first and third with now outs in the fifth. What's going on here?
Hamels isn't going to get past the fifth inning, he just walked Zimmerman to load the bases.

Unless he gets a double play I think this is his last batter, he just went to 3-0 on him, now 3-1.

Got him, popped up to Pence in short right.
Rollins was over for the cutoff on the play right behind first.

Now it's Werth up one out base loaded.

Werth grounded out but a run scores. So he can get out with only one run.

Hamels is pitching on just skill tonight because his stuff is missing. All he really has is his change-up tonight.
Strike out on a low change up. Nice job working out of that inning with only one run.

The Phils keep swinging and missing those 60mph curve balls.

Hamels only got through five today, Kendrick is in now.

It's only 3-1, plenty of time to get back in the game.
THAT is a joke. Kendrick gives up a double then a shot right up the middle by Hernandez for his second hit and second RBI of the game.
HE'S THE PITCHER.

Phillies out in order on more 60 mph curves and 80 miles fast balls.

There was a pop to the right field corner that Pence would have caught if the two fans move out of the way instead of trying to catch it themselves, of course he dropped it.

I just don't get why these fans of their own team interfere while the guy tries to catch a ball.
In the seventh pence swings at another curve almost in the dirt but hits it into a double play. Levon walked Ibanez and Davey Johnson takes him out of the game so maybe they have a chance now.

Nope no chance. That was a weak effort. Actually there was no effort I could see.
I hope this doesn't start a periodof malaise. They just looked bored tonight.

Loss 4-2
Streak 1 loss
After Pence 11-2
Last ten 8-2
Record 77-41








Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Game 117 Phils @ Dodgers

What a revoltin' development that was.
Phils get a couple on base in the first but don't score. This also had a 15 pitch ab for Rollins to start the game, then he popped up.

Then the revoltin'  part. Worley had burning in the first he was behind batters, he was missing spots. Gave up a triple a homer. It was ugly, 5 runs in all.

Top of the second the Phils get second and third one out but Utley pops one to short center.
Kemp catches the ball but lobs it in, Rollins, on third, deked Kemp and tries to score but the catcher did a great job blocking the plate and Jimmy was tagged out and it's a double play to end the inning.

Ugh, Dodgers tack on another run in the third now it's six nothing.
Fourth inning, Howard walks and then Pence smacks one over the center field wall, well over 400 ft. Now it's 6-2, coming back.
Martinez on after an error by Loney, then Charlie keeps Worley in to hit and he singles Martinez in now it's 6-3.

Top fifth, Phils get one more back on an error by third baseman Casey Blake. Was an easy ground ball could have been a double play but it bounced off his arm or glove. Victorino scrored, Howard, who singled and Pence endup on second and third, one out.

Raul swings at the first pitch and pops it up into foul territory in right but the player dropped it.
He finally grounds out but Howard scores, so two more it's now 6-5.

Worley is out to start the bottom of the fifth, Kendrick is in. Kendrick lets a run in, 7-5 going to the sixth.
Chase Utley gets a two out single, good thing about that is that they had runners on second and third again and this time they both scored, tie game 7-7.
Howard is up now and he deposits a ball over that short fence down the left field line for a two run home run, now the Phillies have the lead 9-7 and come back from down 6-0.

Ok so I don't know how much Lidge has left. He came in, got one out then two hits. Last time out he wasn't very good either.
Anyway he's out and they had to bring Bastardo in early here in the seventh. He gets two outs and holds the Dodgers off the board.

Long game. After a string of games that were under 2.5 hours this one is in the seventh and is over three hours already.


Madson in to close but gives up a leadoff hit. Ether just walloped a ball out to Ibanez that he ran down, was a great catch. The ball was slicing away from him and that ball easily bounces over the low fence and would have put second and third with no outs.
Might be a game saving catch.

Uh oh, Kemp's fourth hit today and runners on the corners.
A force at second on a roller to Chase gets the second out. A run scores but two outs and a runner only on first.
Ok he got it.
That completes a 9-1 road trip first time they ever did that. First sweep in L.A. since '95.
Madson was shaky again giving up a run two straight games but he got another save. 
The closers have only one blown save this season.

So 9-1 on the road trip that I hoped would be no les then 6-4. 16-4 last 20 games.
Dodgers wore a powder blue Brooklyn Dodgers uni, looked great.

Now an off day and a series with the Nats.

Win 9-8
Streak 3 wins
After Pence 11-1
Last ten 9-1
Record 77-40 Holy Cow!

Game 116 Phils @ Dodgers

It's late which normally doesn't bother me, but tonight I'm a little tired so this will be a short one.

Cliff Lee pitched 8 shut-out innings and had 10 strike outs. He was well over 120 pitches so he was out after eight.

Madson got the save but not before giving up a run which means the cliff Lee home run was the game winner.

The Phils are now 36 games over .500 for the first time in 34 years, the end of the '77 season when they ended up 101-61.

Lee is now 12-7 and has a 17 inning scoreless streak.
8-1 on the road trip that ends tomorrow.
16-3 in last 19 games.

Win 2-1
Streak 2 wins
After Pence 10-1
Last twelve 11-1
Record 76-40

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Game 115 Phils @ Dodgers August 8th

Roy Halladay gives up a lot of hits. He doesnt walk many but lots of base runners. Again leadoff hitters getting on too.

He has let 8 hits and a walk with no outs in the sixth.
Almost another one that Loney just raked. Pence made a nice catch, got a great jump on the ball for a diving catch.
Ryan Howard has been Jeckyl and Hyde today. 2 hits two RBI's but also another ugly strikeout.

Pence has two hits and an intentional walk.
Ibanez is as bad right now as he was great last month.

Now Halladay is out after an out, a hit and a walk in the seventh. So 6.2 innings , nine hits, 2 walks and only four strike outs.
Bastardo went to 3-0 on his first hitter but Ethier swung and fouled one off, and then a 6-4-3 double play. Out of the jam.


Now Stutes comes in and gives up a run and a bad pickoff sends a runner down to second and he's behind the next batter.
Looks like Lidge will be in next.
Phils are up 4-2 in the eighth, looks like Stutes has been figured out by the rest of the league. He hasn't been so hot lately
Now one out a runner on third and here comes Brad Lidge.
Barajas takes a 3-1 pitch right down the middle for ball four. Runners on the corners still one out. At least they can get a DP now.
Base hit and now it's 4-3. Who's left in the pen besides the closer?
Lidge doesn't have much of a fastball anymore. He's topping out around 89.
90 might be As fast as he can get it up there now.

There's a play that you don't se much.
First and second, one out. A grounder towards Utley. Rivera runs into Utley before Utley has the ball.
The runner on second comes around to score, but he ha to come back to second because it's interference on Rivera for running into chase.
He needed to wait for Utley to catch the ball before he makes contact with the fielder.
So runner who was on second goes back. Runner on first is out and the batter goes to first.

Next pitch bounced five feet in front of the plate and now it's second and third 2 outs. Lidge has been ugly this inning.
Well Stutes was pretty bad too.

Dee Gordon drag bunts and almost got it past Lidge, almost. If he does it's a hit and a tie game.

4-3 going to the top of the ninth.
Shane popped one out over the right field wall for an insurance run. So 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth and Ryan Madson.

Madson gives up a single but that's it. They win it.
That's 10-1 last 11 games. And 7-1 on the road trip thati was going to be happy with a 6-4 trip.

Also it's worth mentioning the results of the fight fallout.
Shane Victorino gets a three game suspension...........
That's it. No one on the Giants gets anything. Completely ridiculous. The pitcher shold get at least 5 games and the catcher, Whiteside should get the same as Victorino.

Win 5-3
Streak 1 win
After Pence 9-1
Last ten 9-1
Record 75-40

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Game 114 Phils @ Giants

This was an odd game.

The Giants tried to squeeze twice and neither one worked.
Chase Utley accidentally threw his bat after swing and miss that hit Linicum in he leg.

Anyway as usual they can't get anything against Linicicum. Howard struck out every ab, and charlie kept Oswalt in for an inning too long.

So their win streak stops but they get three of four from the Giants so that's a good thing.

Three games against the Dodgers starts tomorrow night and Halladay opens it up.

So far 6-1 on the road trip, not bad.

Loss 3-1
Streak 1 loss
After Pence 8-1
Last ten 9-1
Record 74-40 last team to lose forty games

Game 113 Phils @ Giants Agustin 6th

I wasnt able to watch the game today was a bit busy today.

I recorded the game so went back and zipped through some of it.
Turned out it was a pretty amazing pitchers duel.
Cain for the Giants and Hamels the Phils.
Cole threw maybe 24 consecutive first pitch strikes and was 28-32 on first pitch strikes.

He almost had a sheet out but a two out homer in the ninth for Sandoval ruined that.
Going into the eighth the ginats only had four hits, but they got two in the eighth and the homer in the ninth.
Other then that eighth and two base runners in the second Hamels was never in trouble.

The Phils got their two runs in The first, Pence singled in a run and Utley scored on a wild pitch. That was all the Phils would do the rest of the game as they only had five hits.

Now the Phils have won 9 straight and three in a row on the Giants, going for a four game sweep Sunday.

Win 2-1
streak 9 wins
After Pence 8-0
Last ten 9-1
Record 74-39

Friday, August 5, 2011

Game 112 Phils @ Giants

Jonathan Sanchez pitches for the Giants. His first game coming off the DL.
Phils get a runner with one out but Victorino hits into a DP.
Howard is sitting this one out. Maybe Rollns shold have since he was 1-16 now 17 against Sanchez.

Giants get a one out walk and then a hit from Beltran. A sac fly gets them a run.
1-2-3 go the Phils in the second. Giants get a lead off hit in the second.

Worley is behind the hitters so far and looks like he isn't on his game.
Vance gets the Phils first hit two outs in the third, then Rollins strikes out, 1-18 against Sanchez.

Mayberry broke itopen with a two run homer to get it to 4-1 and four runs in the fourth, then another run in the fifth.

Then the fireworks start in the sixh inning.
After the Phils tack on three more runs, Victorino gets pegged right on the belt in the middle of his back. He starts to walk towards the mound but stops.
Then Whiteside their catcher is jumping and down and is clearly attempting to escalate the trouble and then tackles Polanco which does make matters worse and a big fight starts as everyone comes onto the field off the benches.

Not much happened but pushing and shoving but Whiteside clearly instigated the mele' with his aggressive attitude when it all started.
The umps noticed itmtoo and threw him out of the game along with Victorino and the Giants pitcher.

This is all from the last two years or at least last year when Utley was hit several times including the deciding playoff game last when the Giants knocked out the Phils from the playoffs.

Sanchez hit Utley in that game and the ball bounced back to Chase who grabbed it and tossed it back at Sanchez. There was some back and forth but nothing came of it. It did give the momentum back to the Giants as the Phils had Sanchez' number but the bullpen shut down the Phils.

After all that the Phils are up 8-2 after their half of the sixth.

Pence added a solo shot in the seventh and the closed out the scoring.

Big win for the Phils. They take the first two games in this four game series and run the win streak to a season high 8 games and 33 games over .500
They probably aren't going to break the record for most wins, 116 by Seattle in 2001. I can't even imagine how they did that. The Phils need to go 43-7 just to tie it.

Win 9-2
Streak 8 wins
After Pence 7-0
Last ten 8-2
Record 73-39

Game 111 Phils @ Giants

Cliff lee. When he is on he might be the best pitcher in baseball.
He was on tonight.

First the Phils, in their half of the first, Rollins and Polanco both get on. But Rollins is caught stealing. Called out but was clearly safe at third.
Victorino walked and Howard hit a liner to short. For some reason Polanco wondered to far and was doubled off. Not a good start.

Aaron Rowand leads off with a hit for the Giants but he was quickly gone on a double play.
Lee scattered seven hits and was really in trouble only once in the eighth when two runners got on but they didn't score.

Eight strike outs, no walks and seven hits. It was Lee's fifth shut out this season and the Phils 15th.

The other part of the story was Hunter Pence, he chipped in a homer and two RBI's on three hits.
Victorino added two hits and Mayberry homered after Pence to start the second inning for back to back homers.

So Lee had a record breaking June a mediocre July and has started August brilliantly.

Maybe the best was seeing Cody stinkin' Ross striking out four times including the one to end the game with his bat on his shoulder.
I loved it.
Now they're a season high 33 over .500 and 8.5 games ahead of the Braves.

Win 3-0
Streak 7 wins
After Pence 6-0
Last ten 8-2
Record 72-39

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Game 110 Phils @ Colorado

Things looked great to start. The Phils get the first three batters on as Hammel walked all three.
Ok looks good so far. Then Ryan Howard strikes out swinging, Pence hits a sac fly for an RBI. Still ok so far but Ibanez strikes out swinging to end the inning.

Starting a game by loading the bases on walks you really need to get more then one run. I don't know how the first three guys can have the patience to walk then the next three guys go up there hacking away. Doesn't make sense.

So they blow a big chance to break it open.

Bottom of the second. I don't know what's on Ryan Howards mind today but he really looks bad in this first inning at bat and at first.
Their leadoff hitter bunted a ball that popped up. Ryan broke in on the ball and it blooped over his head.
Next guy rolls a ball at Howard and he boots it, then he booted it again when he tried to pick it up. Then he does a stupid backhand throw to Halladay covering first that flies over his head. Runner goes to second and the other guy scores going all the way around from first. 2 errors on the play to Howard.

Phils second inning. Ruiz gets in but Valdez pops out to center then Halladay bunts Ruiz to second.
Rollins singles in Ruiz and goes to second when the right fielder air mails a throw in to the plate, if he throws it low to the cut off man he holds Rollins On first.
Victorino does the same thing but the right fielder kept the ball lower this time and even though it went all the way t the plate again they were able to keep Victorino at first this time.

Pretty sloppy game so far. Also Rollins was limping a little after when he scored the run.

Howard came up again with two more runners on base. This time he didn't strike out. He hit a line drive over Fowler the center fielder that hit the bottom of the wall for two RBI's, makes up a little for that double error that led to two Rocky's runs.

Whatever is going on with Halladay is he gave up a leadoff runner in the first two innings today. He let's first batter in the inning get on base A LOT.

Halladay gives up another run in the second and then walks the leadoff in the third and he scores on a bloop hit from Todd Helton.
Ugly game today. Kendrick shuts them out yesterday and Halladay is struggling today.

Roy gets a bloop hit to start the fourth.
Utley singles but Halladay can't run so first and third. Howard walks now Pence has to do what they got him for.

Wow, on an 0-2 pitch Hammel throws one to the backstop that bounced right back and Halladay comes in to score but the throw was very close, he might have been out.
Pence flys out.

No leadoff hot in the fifth but a one out triple leads to a run for the Rockies.

With two outs in the Phils sixth Howard hits a real long home run into left center for his third and fourth RBI's of the game so he has certainly made up for the double error in the first inning.
He has four homers this series. Can't be coincidence that this has happened right after Pence got here as he follows with a single.
This is Howard's first homer against a lefty this season.

And another lead off hit in the Rockies sixth they are 5-6 leading off the inning today.
Seventh inning single to lead off again for the Rocks.
A double play killed it both the last two innings.

Bastardo in now, No lead off hit in the eighth but Helton just hit a fly ball that kept going and going a went right over the top of the wall in left.

So one out, homer then a single, a ball in the dirt gets away and runner on second.

Hmm, brad Lidge is warming up to close the game. It would be his 100th for the Phils if he gets it.
He did it.
Phils get an ugly win today. Lots of mistakes early. Halladay was not very good. Howard four RBI's. Tough game but great teams need to win ugly games too.

Now tomorrow starts a four game series in San Fran with the Giants. Roy Oswalt is back and will go either Saturday or Sunday.



Win 8-6
Streak 6 wins
After Pence 5-0
Last ten 8-2
Last 30 21-9
Last Fortty 27-13
Last Fifty 35-15
Record 71-39

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Game 109 Phils @ Rockies

What a job Kyle Kendrick has done as a starter. he has kept the Phils in almost every game he has started since going in for Blanton, who likely won't be back this season.
Kendrick's record is 31-6 when he pitches 6 innings or more.

I guess this game and Pence's first game when Howard was 4-4 are what will be shown as the reason they needed to get a guy like Pence to hit behind him,

Howard has two long homers including one into the upper deck in right.
Pence has two doubles and a walk.

Kendrick has skattered 4 hits over 8 innings and has a shut-out.

Kendrick was taken out for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth and he received a noticeable ovation from the Phillies fans who are at the game.
This has become a trend this year at nearly every road game for the Phils. Very noticeable and vocal Phils fans are a every road game.

Btw yesterday Ryan Howard hit his 274th home run putting him exactly half way to Mike Schmidt's Career total.

This eight innings was what they needed tonight as half the bullpen was unavailable tonight due to over work the last few games.
So Herndon will try to finish out the game. If he can't do it Lidge will be in the game.

With this win it puts them 8 games up on the Braves, a season high. Now that is great we want them to get a big lead but I also don't mind a close race to keep them on their game but I guess it doesn't matter.
Tonight was also their 70th win. first team tis year to 70 and their second fastest to that number ever. in 1976 they did it in 104 games 70-34 this year in 109, 70-39. In 1993, 111 games 70-41.

Other then the little glitch against the Giants last week these guys a rolling along like a machine. tonight was also the league leading 14th shut-out.

31 games over .500 a season high. Last season they finished only 30 over.

Win 5-0
streak 5 wins
After Pence 4-0
Last ten 7-3
Record 70-39

Monday, August 1, 2011

Game 108 Phils @ Rockies

The start of a ten game road trip.
Into the sixth inning and the Phils are having another one of these games were they don't hit and Hamels is pitching a terrific game.
He got out of a one out bases loaded spot without giving up any runs.

Hamels did let up a two run homer early and so far that's the difference in the game.

Rollins has been getting a lot of balls and threw out a couple of guys with great lays from in the hole.

He doesn't seem all there on the hitting side though.
His first ab was a first pitch dribbler to the pitcher that he jogged over to first on. I hate that. Run it out.

Then he was forced at second on a play that again looked like he didn't go all out on.
Pence doubles in the seventh and Ibanez doubles him in with no outs and thats it, they don't get him in.

Gload pinch hit for Hamels so he wont get a win but could get a loss. It doesn't help that Stutes who has been very average lately gave ul a home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
That ball looked like it was headed to the gap in left but it just kept on going and went right over the wall.

I hate these games. Starter pitches great, team can't hit, bullpen gives up runs.

But... The reason I keep watching till the games over is because of yesterday and todays game.
Tonight they just look dead, then with two outs in the ninth Ruiz doubles and Mayberry comes up and Battles that closer and fights off a bunch of sliders then pops one way out in left to tie up the game.


Bastardo gives up a leadoff hit, not going to be an easy road trip.

I'll be happy with 6-4 since four are with the Giants and they'll miss Halladay again.

Bastardo got out of that mess.
There it is, Victorino homers in the tenth to give them the lead. Madson comes in and shuts it down to get he Phils to 30 games over .500 and a 7 game lead because the Braves lost tonight too.

They were thirty over at the end of the season last year end with 54 games left they match that.

They are a machine right now, winning early with lots of runs or late with big comebacks.

Win 4-3
Streak 4 wins
After Pence 3-0
Last ten 7-3
Record 69-39

Game 107 August 31st Pirates @ Phils

I listened to most of the game on the radio and love those radio guys.

Worley didn't pitch a great game, he gave up four runs but kept the Phils in the game.
This was all Raul Ibanez. He had three hits, two homers and four RBI's including a two run game tier in the eighth.

Rollins had two RBI's also.

Howard was 1-5 with two K's so the second Pence game didnt do anything for him.

Hunter pence was 1-4 but.... He doubled in the tenth inning and scored on Ibanez double to end the game.
Great comeback for the Phils and nice job for Pence in getting the double in the tenth.

There's been a lot of excitement the last two days with Pence now here.

Win 6-5
Streak 3 wins
After Pence 2-0
Last ten 7-3
Record 68-39