After Two Nights of Famine, Phils Feast on Dodgers
The second half has been filled with crooked numbers for the Phillies so far. Including last night's rout, the Phils or their opponents have scored 10 or more runs in each game since the All-Star Break, with three of those games being lopsided wins and two being blowout losses. The bats heated up early last night, and we couldn't help but stay up to watch the West Coast finale, a 15-3 humiliation of the NL West-leading Dodgers.
J.D. Durbin (whom the team is calling "the Real Deal," even though we know his nickname is Cooler Pants) entered the game with a 3-run first inning lead, and allowed only 1 run on 6 hits over 6 innings, bringing that ERA down to a modest 9.00. He also went 3-4 from the plate, a clear sign that everyone was hitting LA's Mark Hendrickson and Eric Stults (not to be confused with the guy from Mask). Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino each put up 5 hits, Ryan Howard went yard twice, Chase Utley had 3 hits, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored, and Jimmy Rollins set the table with 3 hits of his own.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that Pat Burrell has been on fire lately, hitting at about .500 in July, with 4 homers in his last 11 games (most of which were starts). He was 2-4 with a solo shot and a clutch single last night.
Clay Condrey gave up 2 runs in the 8th, so we're not out of the woods yet with this bullpen, but it was good to see some help in the form of Flash Gordon back on the mound in the 9th, albeit in the definition of a non-save situation.
In a 3:10 rubber match today, Kyle Kendrick (4-0, 3.82 ERA) will face Chad Billingsly (6-0, 3.26 ERA), two undefeated young arms. Definitely a good chance for more crooked numbers.
Good to see the bats come alive again, but this isn't the way you want to win games. If the Phils are going to claw their way to a playoff spot they're gonna need to win some close games. This team inflates and deflates my playoff hopes on a daily basis. The other day I was thinking there is no way they can make the playoffs, and now I'm thinking, they get Myers back and make a move for another starter and we got a chance.
I think we need to just ignore Burrell and let him do his thing, once he starts getting some attention, positive or negative, he starts getting anxious and hitting like shit.
Posted by: gootman | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 08:23 AM
we need to get a tape of this pronto...
The Dodgers showed a 15-minute Mike Lieberthal highlights video from his 13 seasons with the Phillies during batting practice, which mesmerized nearly half his teammates. Lieberthal, who started last night, has had just 45 at-bats playing behind all-star catcher Russell Martin. "The last time I started, they sent me flowers and balloons," Lieberthal said. "I don't know who did it." Lefthander Randy Wolf, Lieberthal's teammate with the Phillies for eight seasons, said he had nothing to do with the video.
Posted by: the Krisheim | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Granted Lieberthal sucked the last few years, he did put in some real quality seasons for the Phils back in the day.
Posted by: enrico | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:08 AM
"mesmerized"
Posted by: the Krisheim | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:35 AM
where'd you get the report of that, TK?
Posted by: Matt P | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:42 AM
the NOTES section written by Todd Zolecki.
i am in LA for da games, as well.
Posted by: the Krisheim | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:56 AM
nice, get us some pics!
Posted by: Matt P | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 12:17 PM