Game Recap:
Roy Halladay became the first Phillies pitcher to win 20 games since Steve Carlton back in 1982, and Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez drove in five runs combined to give the Phillies a five game lead over the Braves with ten to play.
What went right?
Placido Polanco was 2-4 with a run scored.
Chase Utley went 2-5 and scored a run.
Jayson Werth continued his great run, picking up another two hits and a three run home run.
Raul Ibanez was 2-4 with a two run double.
Wilson freaking Valdez went 2-4.
Roy Halladay won his 20th game of the season, making him the first Phillies right hander to do so since Robin Roberts back in 1955. He allowed three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three.
Brad Lidge allowed a base hit, but retired the side without allowing a run for his 25th save of the season.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-5.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3.
The Phillies left 12 men on base.
Game Analysis:
Two games in to this series, and the Phillies have the Braves just where they wanted them. After Cole Hamels picked up a win last night, Roy Halladay did the same tonight, and the Phils find themselves up five games in the National League East with just ten games left to play.
Once again, Roy Halladay wasn't perfect, but he did enough to keep the Phillies in the game. Halladay has looked a little tired of late, but he keeps winning, so that argument can't be that valid at the moment. Tonight, Halladay got the Braves to hit into three double plays, giving the Phillies six in the two games so far. Roy didn't have his strikeout pitch tonight, so he needed the rest of the defense to come up with plays for him, and they were able to do just that. Chase Utley and Wilson Valdez turned two of the three double plays, and Shane Victorino made a great throw to nail Brian McCann at third for the third double play of the game. I'm still concerned about Halladay and how he's been pitching lately, but if he can keep winning, then there's little to really be concerned about. Every pitcher starts to show signs of fatigue at this point of the year, so why is Halladay any different?
The biggest difference tonight was the middle of the lineup once again. It wasn't Ryan Howard or Chase Utley that had the big hits, but Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez once again came through with a pair of clutch hits that ended up making the difference for the Phils tonight. Werth nailed a three run home run in the third inning that Ibanez followed up with a double to drive starter Mike Minor out of the game, and Ibanez put the final nail in Atlanta's coffin with a two run double in the sixth inning. While it's nice to see Howard and Utley knocking in runs and getting hits, the rest of the team has to come through as well, and tonight, they did just that. Werth nailed his fifth home run in eight games, and Ibanez continued his hot September as well.
This hitting is exactly what the Phillies need right now. The top of the rotation, and even the bottom of it, is pitching well, so all that this team needs is a little offense, and they'll be one of the best teams in baseball again. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley can only do so much, but now Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez have stepped up their games to the point where the middle of the lineup is something to be feared again. You can add Shane Victorino as a leadoff hitter to that aspect as well, and this Phillies team is looking even better than the 2008 and 2009 versions.
You have to give Roy Halladay love tonight. The man became the first pitcher since Steve Carlton to record 20 wins as a Phillie, and he did so while picking up 10 losses as well. Had he gotten a little more run support, or a few better breaks, he might have done this sooner, but it's great to see it happen against the Braves. Just two months ago, the Phillies were the team with their backs against the wall. Now, after a 43-15 stretch, the Braves are running out of chances. Tomorrow might be their last one.
Tomorrow night, Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.90 ERA) goes for the sweep against the Braves. Atlanta will finally send one of their better pitchers out there in Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.62 ERA).
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