Game Recap:
Home runs by Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth helped pace Cole Hamels, who pitched seven strong innings for his fifth win of the season.
What went right?
Ryan Howard was 2-3 with a walk, two runs scored, a home run and two RBI.
Jayson Werth went 2-4 with a two run home run and two runs scored.
Shane Victorino was 1-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Cole Hamels looked sharp, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 1-3, but had to leave the game in the sixth inning when he strained his right calf again.
Placido Polanco went 0-5.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-4.
Game Analysis:
After a game like this, you would hope that the talk would be about how good the Phillies looked last night. Both Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth had two run home runs that got the Phils going on offense, and Cole Hamels had possibly his best outing of the season. Instead, the talk is about Jimmy Rollins and his right calf, which seems to not want to get healthy this season.
Before the Rollins talk starts, the Phils were solid last night against Boston. They managed nine hits off of Boston starter John Lackey and the Red Sox bullpen, and walked five times. Against an American League team, that's exactly what you need to do, and the Phillies did it well last night. They had that patience back at the plate that was so good at the start of the year, and part of it had to do with Rollins being back in the leadoff position for the first time since April. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last long, as the buzz surrounding Rollins' return was shortlived.
In the sixth inning, with the Phillies leading 4-1, Rollins came up limping after a single. Juan Castro replaced him and would score later in the inning, but the focus was once again on Rollins and his calf. The Phils shortstop had been off the disabled list for all of five games, but now he's going back again. This afternoon, the Phillies put Rollins back on the disabled list with another right calf strain, but this time the injury doesn't seem as bad. While the last one was a higher grade strain, this one was apparently a level one, meaning he should be back in two weeks or so. Regardless, the Phils seemed to be getting back into a groove with Rollins in the lineup again, and it sucks to have him be knocked out for another two weeks, at least. This team works so well with him at the top, and without him, there have been games this year where the Phillies have struggled.
Aside from the injury woes, Cole Hamels looked great last night. After giving up a first inning home run, Hamels settled down and allowed just three base runners in the next six innings. His changeup was moving and his fastball had more life on it than at any other time this season. It was good to see the old Cole out there, especially against an American League team. Even though the Red Sox are having a down season at the moment, they are still a dangerous team and can break out a huge offensive performance at any time, so for Hamels to control them like he did was great. Boston showed how good they were with several deep at bats, and still Hamels only gave up three hits and one walk. It was that type of night for Cole, who won his fifth game of the season and dropped his ERA to 3.92. The bullpen had a few moments in attempting to finish what Hamels started, but they did their job.
The scary thing about the Phillies is that they have the best record in the National League and are 11 games over .500 without Jimmy Rollins, J.A. Happ, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson playing with them right now. Add in the fact that Joe Blanton, J.C. Romero, Rollins and Lidge all missed time earlier in the season, too, and you have to wonder how good this team really is. Without their leadoff hitter, closer and top setup man, the Phillies are still playing top level baseball. Eventually, most, if not all of these players will be back in the lineup or rotation. Can you imagine how good this team will be then?
In about ten minutes, the Phils and Red Sox will get on the field for game two of their series. Kyle Kendrick (2-1, 5.24 ERA) goes against Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 7.89 ERA).
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