Game Recap:
The Phillies beat the Astros for the first time this year behind the strength of Pedro Feliz's grand slam and Jayson Werth's two run home run.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with an RBI.
Ryan Howard was 1-4 and scored a run.
Raul Ibanez was 1-3 with two runs scored.
Jayson Werth went 2-3 with a two run home run and two runs scored.
Pedro Feliz was 1-4 with a grand slam home run.
Paul freaking Bako was 1-3 with a run scored.
J.A. Happ pitched ok, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He walked one and struck out six.
Ryan Madson worked the eighth and ninth innings for his tenth save of the season.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-4.
Chase Utley was 0-4.
Game Analysis:
It's amazing what happens when the Phillies win a game when they have to. It wasn't the prettiest win in the world, but J.A. Happ did what he had to do, and backed by the bats of Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth, the Phils inched closer to their third straight division crown.
It was about time for the bats to wake back up, and when they did, oh did they strike quickly. After Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez singled in the fourth inning, Jayson Werth walked, and Pedro Feliz came to the plate with no one out. I would have been happy with an RBI double, but Pedro did everyone one better and took the first pitch he saw into left field for a grand slam, and the Phillies never looked back tonight. Jayson Werth's two run shot in the fifth inning gave the Phils all the insurance runs they would need, and after Jamie Moyer and Ryan Madson shut the Astros down in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, the Phillies were one game away from clinching the NL East again.
J.A. Happ didn't pitch great tonight, but he did what he had to do. When he got into jams, he pitched out of them, aside from the two run shot he gave up to Kaz Matsui in the top of the sixth inning. Jamie Moyer did his job out of the bullpen before leaving the game because of a groin strain, and Ryan Madson worked a solid two innings for a save. I really have very little to complain about tonight, because the Phillies played well and did what they had to do tonight. That closed door meeting with Charlie Manuel today seems to have done exactly what it had to do, because the Phillies came out today and looked like a different team compared to yesterday.
I'm not saying the NL East race is over, but it's damn sure close. Thanks to the Phillies winning tonight and the Marlins taking a game from the Braves, the magic number is down to just one game. One win by the Phillies or loss by the Braves gives the Phils a third straight division crown. I'm banking on it happening tomorrow, since I just bought a ticket for the game.
Tomorrow night, the Phillies go for the division crown, as Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.32 ERA) goes against Brian Moehler (8-11, 5.21 ERA).
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