Game Recap:
The Phillies and Reds went back and forth until the fifth inning, when the Phillies took an 8-6 lead. Jayson Werth's home run was more than enough for Brad Lidge to pick up the save and give the Phils their sixth win in seven games.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Shane Victorino showed why he's an All Star, going 1-3 with two RBI and two walks.
Chase Utley went 2-5 with an inside the park home run.
Ryan Howard was 1-3 with two runs scored.
Jayson Werth went 2-4 with his fourth home run in four games and two RBI.
Pedro Feliz was 2-5 with an RBI.
The bullpen was great, with Chan Ho Park throwing three no hit innings, and Brad Lidge working a good ninth inning for his 17th save.
What went wrong?
Greg Dobbs went 0-4.
Jamie Moyer wasn't great, lasting only five innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. He walked one, struck out two and allowed two more home runs.
Game Analysis:
Boy, it's been a while since the Phillies were playing well at home, hasn't it been? With their sixth win out of seven games on this homestand, the Phils are proving that they are one of the better teams in the National League heading into the All Star break. In case you didn't notice, most of what went right for the Phillies came from the top of the lineup, which is exactly where it needs to come from if this team is going to be good come October. Jimmy Rollins is slowly working his way back to being a good ball player, while the foursome of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth all have 20 home runs...before the All Star break. All four of them have a great chance at driving in over 100 runs as well, giving the Phillies one of the best hearts of a lineup in all of baseball.
It wasn't a great start tonight from Jamie Moyer, but it was enough for him to somehow get his eighth win on the season. These are the kinds of starts we should be getting used to from Moyer by now. He's not good enough to completely dominate every time out, but if the offense shows up, there's a chance for the Phillies to win every game he pitches, and that was the case tonight. Six runs in five innings is nowhere close to good enough, but he hung in there, and the offense bailed him out. It's not great, but it's good enough.
The starting pitching is still a question. Even with the Phillies being interested in Pedro freaking Martinez, I still know they need one more top of the line starter for them to have a shot at a repeat. I know I said it yesterday, but Roy Halladay is sitting there for the taking. Yes, he's going to take an arm and a leg to get, but how many chances do you get to trade for one of the best pitchers in all of baseball? It has to be done. J.A. Happ is not Halladay, and Jason Donald isn't going to turn into Mike Schmidt. Could Kyle Drabek be good? Of course he could, but he could also turn into another Brandon Duckworth. It's too much right now, with Hamels fighting through an average year and Myers being out for most of the season. The Phillies need that top starter, and Halladay is right there...go get him.
Tomorrow, the Phils start a three game series with Pittsburgh. Hopefully they can keep their hot close to the first half going. Joe Blanton (5-4, 4.69 ERA) goes against Zach Duke (8-7, 3.28 ERA). Let's see if the Phillies can avenge the Flyers and take down Pittsburgh!
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