Game Recap:
The Phillies moved to ten games over .500 thanks to a walk off hit in the 11th inning by Wilson Valdez that extended their winning streak to eight straight.
What went right?
Placido Polanco was 2-5.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 with a home run.
Cody freaking Ransom was 2-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Carlos Ruiz was 2-5 with an RBI.
Wilson Valdez somehow convinced people he was not Wilson Valdez, as he went 3-5 with the game winning RBI.
Kyle Kendrick pitched well, allowing a single run on four hits in 6.1 innings. He walked three and struck out five while going 1-1 at the plate.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard was 0-5 with two strikeouts.
Jayson Werth went 0-5 with three strikeouts.
J.C. Romero didn't have his best bullpen outing, allowing a run on a hit and two walks in the ninth inning.
Game Analysis:
It wasn't the best game for the Phillies, but it turned out to be another win, as the Phils took their eighth straight win and swept the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Philadelphia. With Cody Ransom on second base, Wilson Valdez validated his being on this team with a game winning single in the 11th inning that gave the Phillies another win and moved them to within two and a half games of the Atlanta Braves.
While the offense didn't look that great tonight, Kyle Kendrick was solid. He gave up just a single run in 6.1 innings, and Charlie Manuel played it smart with him tonight. When he got in trouble in the seventh inning, he was taken out of the game, and he had a 2-1 lead. Kendrick did what he had to tonight to retire the side and look good as the Phillies' fourth starter. Kendrick didn't run into the same problems that he had during most of the regular season, and he was able to keep the bullpen out of the game for the first six innings. If a starting pitcher is doing that, then he's doing a good job. That's all there is to it.
The Phillies only scored three times tonight, but those three times were worth it. Raul Ibanez continued his hot streak with a home run, and Carlos Ruiz did his part with a double. Aside from those hits, the offense was quiet for most of the night, as the Phillies couldn't get past Joe Saunders. However, they did what they had to do, and won their eighth game in a row. The offense is clicking at the right time, and with the pitching coming together and adding Roy Oswalt, this team is only going to get better.
Tomorrow, the Phils look to build from their walk-off win as they take on the Washington Nationals. Roy Oswalt (6-12, 3.42 ERA) makes his debut as a Phillie as he takes on Craig Stammen (2-4, 5.50 ERA).
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