Game Recap:
Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game shutout in Major League history as the Phillies won their fourth straight game.
What went right?
Chase Utley was 2-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with two runs scored.
Jayson Werth went 2-4 with a three run home run and a run scored.
Raul Ibanez was 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI.
Wilson Valdez was 1-4 with two RBI.
Jamie Moyer pitched a complete game shutout, giving up two hits through the game. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-5.
Game Analysis:
One day after the master of the complete game in a Phillies uniform passed away, the oldest Phillie pitched his best game in almost 24 years. Jamie Moyer worked a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits and pitching to only 28 batters on the entire night to get the Phillies past the Atlanta Braves in the first game of their three game series.
Phil Niekro had been the oldest player to ever pitch a complete game shutout, having done so back in 1986 with the New York Yankees at age 46, 188 days. Tonight, Moyer topped him, becoming the oldest pitcher in baseball history to throw a complete game shutout at almost a year older than Niekro. In every game that I've seen Jamie Moyer pitch for the Phillies, I've never seen him pitch as well as he did tonight, and I don't think anyone else has either. Troy Glaus was the only Brave to get on base tonight against Moyer, and Jamie got him on a double play in the second inning and left him stranded in the eighth inning. Those were the only two chances that the Braves had in the entire night.
The offense was just solid again for another night. Jayson Werth connected with another three run home run, and Raul Ibanez continued to turn things around with two more hits and a couple more RBI. Even Wilson Valdez, the third man that the Phillies have started at shortstop so far this season, had two RBI. At least for tonight, the Phillies could forget about Jimmy Rollins. It's not a total forgetfulness on the offensive side of the plate, but the way the Phils played tonight against Derek Lowe, I can't find anything to complain about. Aside from back to back home runs that Lowe had given up against the Phillies back in the 2008 NLCS, he had done well against the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park, but he didn't have it going tonight. For the second time this season, Lowe didn't make it through the sixth inning against the Phillies and picked up his second loss of the season against the Phils. That's what this offense has to do this year. They have to fight against the tougher pitchers like Lowe and force them out of the game early. Tonight was another example of that.
The story tonight though was Jamie Moyer. Before tonight, Moyer hadn't pitched a complete game with the Phillies since 2007, and hadn't thrown a two hitter since 2006. Tonight, Moyer managed to hop into a time machine and deliver the best performance that he's ever had with the Phillies. This tops any showing that he's ever had before. This is better than Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 World Series or anything else that he's done with the Phils. Tonight, Moyer was in another world, and it showed. With him pitching like that tonight, no team in baseball could have played with him, and the Atlanta Braves, who have been struggling of late, certainly couldn't hang around tonight. I know 47 year olds that are waiting for CBS to start their Sunday programming, but tonight, Jamie Moyer made Major League history with a record that I doubt will ever be broken, and I mean that.
Tomorrow, Joe Blanton (0-1, 5.40 ERA) goes in his second start of the year as he faces off against Kris Medlen (1-1, 2.55 ERA).
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