Double Dip Phillies Recap

Friday: Cardinals-8, Phillies-1
Real simple...the less said about this game, the better. Happ got lit up, and nothing went right. Moving on!

Saturday: Phillies-14, Cardinals-6
Much Better!

Game Recap:
A grand slam by Jimmy Rollins opened the floodgates in the seventh inning, as the Phillies scored 11 times in their last two at bats to beat up on St. Louis.

What went right?

Jimmy Rollins was 2-5 with that grand slam and five RBI. He also scored twice.

Shane Victorino went 4-4 with a home run, three runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base.

Raul Ibanez was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Pedro Feliz was 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Chase Utley went 1-3 and scored twice.

Ryan Howard was 1-5 with two RBI.

Jayson Werth went 1-3 with two runs scored.

What went wrong?

Rodrigo Lopez got the win, but wasn't that sharp, allowing four runs (three earned) on ten hits. He walked one, struck out two and allowed two home runs.

The Phillies committed two errors.

Game Analysis:

After a very poor showing last night, the Phillies needed a strong bounce back game, and that's exactly what they got today, even though it certainly didn't look like that's where they were headed for six innings. After a three run burst in the first inning, the Phils let the Cardinals chip away at the lead, until Rick Ankiel's solo home run gave St. Louis the lead for the first time. Fortunately, Jimmy Rollins is starting to play like the 2007 MVP again, and his two out grand slam, and subsequent Shane Victorino home run in the seventh inning, gave the Phillies all the runs they would need. Of course, that didn't stop them from tacking on six more in the eighth inning, but when you're facing Albert Pujols, you can't be too safe.

Before the late offensive explosion, it looked like it was going to be another loss for the Phillies. Rodrigo Lopez only allowed three earned runs, but had given up ten hits to the Cardinals in six innings, which is far too many. At this point, even with three wins, it looks like he just might be keeping that spot in the rotation warm for Pedro Martinez. Hopefully, he can keep pitching well, even with the average play today. He's got a few more starts before Pedro should be ready to go, so let's see what he can do with them.

Like I said before, this was a game the Phillies needed to win. After being soundly beaten last night, this game was on national television, and was a chance for the Phils to make a statement, and they did just that. Yes, it took them until the seventh inning to really get started, but that's why a baseball game is nine innings long. It doesn't matter if you score runs in the first inning or the ninth, just as long as you score them. With the lineup the Phillies have, you are almost assured that the runs will eventually come, it's just a matter of how many and how soon. That's what makes this team so dangerous...they can score whenever they feel like it.

Tomorrow, Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.24 ERA) looks to push the Phils to a series win as he goes against Todd Wellemeyer (7-8, 5.68 ERA). Let's go Phillies!