Game Recap:
The Phillies banged out nine hits and walked eight times as their offense woke up against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What went right?
Placido Polanco was 2-5 with a run scored.
Chase Utley was 2-4, stole a base and scored a run.
Ryan Howard went 1-4 with a walk and a three run home run. He also scored twice.
Jayson Werth went 1-3, scored twice, stole a base and walked twice.
Brian Schneider only had one official at bat, but he made it worth it, hitting a three run home run.
Carlos Ruiz also only had one at bat, but he drove in two with a single.
The bullpen held the Dodgers to just one hit in four innings of work.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins went 0-5.
That's it.
Game Analysis:
After struggling on offense in San Diego, the Phillies were shutout in their first game against the Dodgers on Monday night. Last night, things were much, much better as Ryan Howard and Brian Schneider launched three run home runs and Carlos Ruiz drove in two insurance runs to push the Phils past the Dodgers in the second game of their series.
It was good to see the offense really step up after some poor showings recently. Plus, Ryan Howard welcomed in September with his first home run since coming off the disabled list. Los Angeles starter Carlos Monasterios only lasted two innings and allowed five runs. This was a game the Phillies needed. The starting pitching has been great lately, but the offense has been horrible. It's just one game, but hopefully, the performance from last night is going to carry over the rest of the season for the Phils. They still have their 1.5 game lead over the Giants in the Wild Card, and are still three games back of the Braves in the NL East, but anything can happen. The last few seasons, September has been very good for the Phils, and it should be good again this year.
Kyle Kendrick wasn't great last night, but he did enough to get the win. He allowed four runs and gave up seven hits in just five innings of work, but he did what he had to. You should know by now that Kendrick isn't going to go out there and pitch like one of the top three pitchers in the rotation, but if he can go and get you solid innings and keep the team in the game, then you'll be fine. That's what he did last night, and that's what he's actually done for most of the season. Sure, the offense likes to help bail him out for some reason, but it doesn't matter. As long as the Phillies win, everyone should be happy.
Today, the Phils look to finish their little West Coast trip with one more win. Roy Oswalt (9-13, 3.12 ERA) goes against Clayton Kershaw (11-8, 3.01 ERA).
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