Game Recap:
Jayson Werth launched two solo home runs, including one in the ninth inning, that pushed the Phillies past the Arizona Diamondbacks last night.
What went right?
Jayson Werth was 2-4 with those two solo home runs.
Raul Ibanez went 2-4 with his first home run of the season.
Juan Castro went 1-2 before having to leave the game with a hamstring strain.
Nelson Figueroa pitched well in a spot start, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The bullpen did a great job, allowing only three hits in four innings of work, with each pitcher recording at least two strikeouts.
What went wrong?
Aside from Werth, Ibanez and Castro, the Phillies managed one other hit...and that was from Carlos Ruiz. Everyone else went 0 for the game.
Game Analysis:
After being pounded by the longball on Friday night, the Phillies came back last night and gave Arizona a taste of their own medicine. Somehow, the Phils hadn't hit a home run since last Saturday against the Florida Marlins, but Jayson Werth changed all of that in his first at bat of the game, taking a pitch to deep center field for his second home run of the season. He wasn't done yet, though. Raul Ibanez hit his first home run of the season in the seventh inning to tie the score, and then Werth finished the job with a blast into center that gave the Phillies the lead in the ninth. It wasn't a pretty win, with the Phils only working out six hits, but it still counts the same.
For someone that was cast off from the New York Mets, Nelson Figueroa has done a good job with the Phillies so far this season. Last night, he pitched well in his first start of the year, and he did just what the Phillies needed him to do. With J.A. Happ on the disabled list, and Joe Blanton a few days away from coming back, the Phils needed a quick start from someone that could keep them in the game and give them a chance to win. Though Figueroa threw 100 pitches in five innings, he did just that, and then the bullpen came in and finished the job for the Phillies. I'm very impressed with the way Figueroa pitched last night, especially since it was just his fourth appearance of the season and his first start. With the way the schedule is lined up now, it doesn't look like he's going to have to make another start for the Phillies before Blanton gets back, but it's nice to know that he's there if he has to.
I do have some concerns about the offense at the moment as well. Aside from Jayson Werth, no one on the team is swinging the bat well right now, though Raul Ibanez did finally hit his first home run of the season last night. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have gone cold, and Shane Victorino is still trying to find his swing again. Now, Juan Castro, who had been playing well in place of Jimmy Rollins, is likely out for at least a few games with a hamstring strain. Wilson Valdez is going to start for Castro, but that's just another early season blow to this team. Luckily, it is still early, and despite the struggles, this team is still playing well. They're tied with the Padres for the best record in the National League, and their starting pitching has picked up the slack that their offense has left out there. The bats will get hot again, and when they do, this team is going to be very, very good.
Today, the Phils look for their second straight win against the Diamondbacks. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.24 ERA) is looking for his first win of the year, and he'll face off against former Phillie Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.50 ERA).
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