Phillies Recap: Phillies-9, Brewers-4

Game Recap:
The Phillies bounced back from their two game skid against the Marlins with a nice win over Milwaukee tonight to drop their magic number down to four.

What went right?

Jimmy Rollins went 2-4 with three RBI, a home run and two runs scored.

Shane Victorino went 3-5.

Ryan Howard was 1-5 with two RBI.

Ben Francisco went 2-5 and scored twice.

Pedro Feliz was 3-5 and drove in two.

Paul Bako even managed two hits and an RBI.

J.A. Happ pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out seven while also going 1-2 at the plate with an RBI.

What went wrong?

Clay Condrey made things a little more interesting in the ninth inning, giving up two runs on two hits.

Game Analysis:

That's more like the team that I saw before the meltdown in Miami last night. The Phillies came out tonight and took it to Jeff Suppan and the Brewers before Milwaukee even knew what hit them. Even though J.A. Happ didn't make it out of the sixth inning, he pitched well, and the offense came to play tonight. By the time the top of the fifth inning was done, the Phils were up 8-1, and that would be all that they would need tonight.

It's amazing how many runs Jimmy Rollins has scored and driven in, considering his below average season. Just think what he could have done if he had even come close to playing well in the first half. He's still managed to score 94 times and drive in 75 runs, which is just a testament to how well the Phillies have played on offense this year. Ryan Howard continues to do what he does best each and every night down the stretch, and the back end of the lineup contributed greatly tonight, with Pedro Feliz driving in two, and Paul Bako scoring and driving in a run. Yes, Jimmy Rollins drove in the most important runs with a three run shot in the fifth, but what matters more is getting some production from the back of that rotation. Without that, the Phils can't get that far in the playoffs.

I'm still a little worried about the bullpen situation. Even though it wasn't a save tonight, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker both had to labor to get through an inning of work a piece, with Condrey allowing two runs before recording the final out of the game. There are just ten games to play in the regular season, and something has to be done with the back of the bullpen. I don't know who is going to close games, but someone in there has to be capable of recording a 1-2-3 ninth inning a few times. It can't be as hard as Brad Lidge is making it out to be, but Lord knows the Phillies can't go back to him any more.

Anyway, it was a good win tonight, and with both the Marlins and the Braves off, the Phillies not only knocked their magic number down to four, but also gained a half game on each of their two division foes.

Tomorrow, Cliff Lee (14-11, 2.99 ERA) goes for the Phillies. He'll face off against Manny Parra (10-10, 6.42 ERA).