Game Recap:
Ryan Howard launched two more home runs, and Jamie Moyer looked great after spelling Pedro Martinez as the Phillies took the first game of a big series against Atlanta.
What went right?
Chase Utley was 1-4 and scored a run.
Ryan Howard went 3-3 with a double, two home runs and three RBI.
Pedro Feliz went 2-3 with an RBI.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with a triple and a run scored.
Jamie Moyer came in after rain forced Pedro Martinez out and looked good, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.
Brad Lidge pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up the save.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins was 0-4.
Shane Victorino was 0-4.
Ryan Madson did his best to make sure that Lidge wouldn't get a chance to save the game, allowing a run on three hits and a walk in the eighth inning.
Game Analysis:
After a poor showing in Pittsburgh, the Phillies needed a game like this. Yes it helped that Tommy Hanson was knocked out of the game because of the rain delay, but that's part of baseball. Ryan Howard is still the hottest thing going in baseball right now, and if he keeps this up, it's going to be a coast down to the end of the season.
Apparently, all that Jamie Moyer needs to pitch well is to rest for ten days, come out of the bullpen when it rains and replace Pedro Martinez. If that's what it takes, I'll gladly keep it raining every time Pedro pitches from this point on. Moyer looked like a man on a mission again last night. I know he's upset about losing his spot in the rotation, but if he keeps pitching like this out of the bullpen, the Phillies are going to be happy to have him there. I really think he would be better there than Pedro would be, so I'm all for keeping him right where he is for as long as the Phillies want to.
I'm not going to say much about Brad Lidge right now, since it was just one game, but he looked like a different pitcher last night. He had the bite on his slider again, and was getting people fishing at it. Matt Diaz looked silly on his last two swings to end the game, and that was after getting up 3-0 in the count. This is the Brad Lidge the Phillies need in order to succeed in October. Last night, the Phillies came out in a big situation for both teams, and took it to the Braves. It was a statement, and hopefully that continues throughout the rest of this series and this season.
Tonight, Cliff Lee (12-9, 2.63 ERA) looks for his sixth straight win as a Phillie. He'll be facing Derek Lowe (12-8, 4.48 ERA). Lowe hates pitching in Philly, so hopefully the Phils can make him hate it even more tonight.
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