Phillies Recap: Phillies-7, Nationals-5

Game Recap:
In a rain shortened game, the Phillies struck with homers from Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, and were able to pick up their third straight win after the game was called.

What went right?

Raul Ibanez went 2-3 with a home run and three RBI.

Ryan Howard went 2-3 with a home run and two RBI.

Chase Utley went 3-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Jimmy Rollins went 2-3 with a triple and scored twice.

What went wrong?

Greg Dobbs went 0-3.

Shane Victorino was 0-2 with a walk.

Matt Stairs was 0-2 with a walk.

Game Analysis:

Ah, the doubleheader sweep. Not much feels better when it comes to baseball in May. Of course, it always helps when nature decides to come calling and cut the game short, but it was still official, so I'll take it. Andrew Carpenter made his first Major League start, and while he wasn't great, he did enough to keep the Phillies in the game. He pitched 4 and 1/3rd innings, gave up eight hits and five runs, but he did strike out four as well and he picked up the win. He'll more than likely be headed back down to Triple A later this week, but he did what he had to do tonight, and that first big league win can't be taken away from him.

Aside from that, the Phillies really came to hit in both games today. Raul Ibanez was particularly hitterish, as he went 5-8 with three homers and seven RBI in the two games. Chase Utley also seemed to rise up from his little slump, as he went 3-3 during the game. Carlos Ruiz also continued his hot streak, getting a bases loaded walk in the fourth inning, which is the 12th bases loaded walk for the Phils this season. If the bats can continue to stay warm with the starting pitching starting to come around, the Phillies could be right back where they were last year, and that's a very good thing.

The Phils will also benefit from the rain, since they only had to tap into their bullpen once in the second game. Clay Condrey picked up the save for his 2/3rds of an inning of work, while everyone else got to sit back and watch as the Washington ground crew struggled to put the tarp on. Hopefully, the Phillies will have just about everyone available out of the bullpen tomorrow, since almost everyone got to rest in the second game.

It wasn't a full game, but it was official, and I'll take a weather shortened doubleheader sweep over a split any day of the week. Tomorrow, the Phillies try to make it a four game sweep of the Nationals as Chan Ho Park (1-1, 6.00 ERA) faces Jordan Zimmerman (2-1, 5.90 ERA).