Game Recap:
Jamie Moyer didn't have his best stuff tonight, but the Phillies bounced back, thanks to late home runs by Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino to take their second straight game against the Astros.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 2-4 with a bases loaded walk, a two run home run and two runs scored.
Jayson Werth was 3-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Shane Victorino had his best game of the season so far, going 2-5 with a two run home run and three RBI.
Placido Polanco continued his hot start, going 2-5 with a run scored.
Chase Utley had the oddest box score of the night, as he went 0-3, with two walks. Both times Utley walked, he scored a run.
The bullpen was solid again in relief of Jamie Moyer, pitching three innings and allowing just one run on two hits.
What went wrong?
Jamie Moyer didn't have the best game in his first start of the year, allowing five runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked one batter and didn't strike anyone out.
Brian Schneider was 0-3 with two walks and three strikeouts.
Game Analysis:
Five games into the season, and it's tough to find another team that's hitting as well as the Phillies are right now. So far this year, the Phils are averaging 8.2 runs a game, while giving up just 3.4. That's a very good recipe for success, and it's one that is going to result in a lot of wins if the Phillies can keep it up.
Tonight, Jamie Moyer made his first start of the year, and it wasn't a great one, but it's one that most fans have come to expect from Moyer. He only really got hit in one inning, and after that, he was fine again. That's one of the reasons that Moyer won the last starting job in Spring Training. Unlike Kyle Kendrick, who still seems to let things get to him when they go bad on the mound, Moyer has been around enough to regain his composure and go back out there like nothing happened in the previous inning. While I'm sure just about everyone would rather he not give up five runs in a single inning, having a pitcher that can bounce back from that is just as important as having an ace at the top of the rotation. Without a strong mental game on the mound, no pitcher can do well, and Moyer has the mental game down.
Once again, the offense was terrific tonight. Ryan Howard's hot start continued, as he launched his third home run of the season and raised his RBI total to ten so far. The big man even worked a bases loaded walk, which is something I don't think I've ever seen him do before. The way he is playing this season is something that Phillies fans haven't seen from him yet, and that's scary, because Howard averages almost 50 home runs a season, and that's with 200 strikeouts. This season, he's struck out just once. Brian Schneider struck out three times tonight, to put that as a comparison. When you combine Howard's hot start with the fact that Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Placido Polanco are just about matching him stride for stride, there's nothing about this team that has me that worried right now.
Even the bullpen has been pitching lights out so far this year, and that was supposed to be the biggest weakness for the Phillies coming into the season. Yes, it's only five games in, but there's only so many times that I can say this season is still young before the bullpen becomes a strength, not a weakness. The bullpen has allowed just three runs this season, and that's without J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge. When the Phils get them both back, the bullpen could get even stronger, and that's something that most of the other National League teams are going to have to prepare for.
It was another good night for the Phillies down in Houston, as they've been able to handle a team that they had trouble with last year. The timely hitting was there again, and the pitching, though shaky for an inning, was solid for the other eight. Tomorrow afternoon, Roy Halladay (1-0, 1.29 ERA) goes for the series sweep, as he faces off against Roy Oswalt (0-1, 4.50 ERA).
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