Game Recap:
The Marlins jumped on Joe Blanton early and held on for a win in the first game of the last series before the playoffs.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 3-4 with a two run home run.
Miguel Cairo went 1-4 and scored a run.
Aside from Sergio Escalona, the bullpen was solid last night, giving up two hits and no runs in two innings.
What went wrong?
Joe Blanton didn't look that sharp, giving up five runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Sergio Escalona didn't do himself any favors, giving up two runs on three hits in an inning of work.
Aside from Howard and Cairo, the Phillies managed just three more hits as a team.
Game Anaylsis:
Once again, it wasn't the best effort from the Phillies last night, but there still isn't that much to worry about in terms of playoff seeding. As of this moment, the Phillies basically have the two spot wrapped up. All they need to do is win one game, or have the Cardinals lose a game, and that's it. I'd be happy with home field in the first round and hope for an upset in the other series, just like what happened last year. It's not the cleanest way to go about the playoffs, but I'll take whatever works.
Joe Blanton looked off last night, as the Marlins got to him early for four runs in the first two innings. After that, he settled down for a bit, but did get charged with another run in the seventh inning. The main problem last night was Sergio Escalona getting hit for two runs in the eighth inning. For someone who is playing for a spot on the playoff roster, that is not how you get it done. The Marlins have hit him both times he's pitched against them, though, so it might just be that they see something in his delivery, since he's only given up runs to one other team in his time in the majors. Either way, he's going to be looking at some extended time in the rest of this series, so he's going to have to get his act together quickly.
I'm not too concerned with the way the offense played last night. Ryan Howard was great again, but this was not the playoff lineup that was out there. Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz and Jimmy Rollins were given the night off, and I'm sure it's going to be more of the same today and tomorrow. This isn't like the last two years. This time, the Phillies can actually afford to rest players before the postseason starts, since the race is already over. Like I said, they've got the number two seed all but locked up, and if they can somehow stumble into homefield throughout the rest of the NL playoffs, then I won't complain.
Today, Cole Hamels (10-10, 4.25 ERA) makes his last start of the regular season against Anibal Sanchez (3-8, 4.10 ERA). You might remember him from his recent Cy Young type performance against the Phillies the last time these two teams played. Hopefully, it doesn't go so well for him today.
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