Phillies Recap: Phillies-4, Diamondbacks-3

Game Recap:
Cole Hamels pitched eight solid innings, and the Phillies worked Dan Haren over to get their fourth straight win.

What went right?

Shane Victorino was 3-5 with two runs scored, a home run, a stolen base and two RBI.

Jimmy Rollins went 1-5, stole a base and scored a run.

Cole Hamels pitched eight innings, allowing one run on four hits. He walked none, struck out nine and went 1-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored.

The Phillies knocked Dan Haren out of the game after five innings and 117 pitches.

What went wrong?

Brad Lidge made the ninth inning interesting, allowing a two run home run to Mark Reynolds before shutting Arizona down for his seventh straight save.

Carlos Ruiz went 0-4, and was the only starting position player not to reach base or drive in a run.

Game Analysis:

What a pretty little bit of pitching that was from Cole Hamels. It's taken him a while, but it looks like he might finally be back to last year's form. He still had a little trouble early last night, when he gave up a first inning home run, but after that, it was vintage Cole. He had the Diamondbacks guessing at pitches all night, and his changeup looked really good, too. This is what the Phillies need from Cole if they want to make another run in the National League.

While the Phils only scored four runs last night, it was their patience at the plate that was more impressive. Dan Haren is one of the best pitchers in the National League, and the Phillies didn't let him get settled into any sort of a groove last night. The offense had several long at bats that drained Haren, and by the end of the fifth inning, the Arizona ace was already at 117 pitches. In comparison, Cole Hamels pitched eight innings and needed only 112 pitches to do that. That shows you how good the batters were last night for the Phillies. When you face good pitching you either need to come out swinging, and try and knock the pitcher out early, or have long, productive at bats that work the pitcher over. Last night, the Phillies did the latter, and it worked like a charm.

Tonight, the Phillies go for the sweep of Arizona. J.A. Happ (7-1, 2.97) ERA makes the start. He'll be facing off against Yusmeiro Petit (0-5, 7.68 ERA). Hopefully, it's not the last start Happ ever makes for us. Go Phils!