Game Recap:
The Phillies used a well balanced attack to pace themselves tonight, and Roy Halladay picked up his 18th win as the Phils held on to first place with a win over the Mets.
What went right?
Shane Victorino was 2-4 with an RBI.
Chase Utley went 1-5, but it was a big one, as he hit a home run.
Ryan Howard continued his hot streak once again, going 2-5 with two runs scored and a home run. You think that he knows it's September?
Jayson Werth was 2-5 two runs scored.
Carlos Ruiz went 3-3, scoring once and driving in a run.
Wilson freaking Valdez started in place of Jimmy Rollins and at least managed to drive in a run.
Roy Halladay didn't have his best stuff, but he did manage to pick up his 18th win. He pitched seven and two thirds innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five. He also drove in two runs at the plate.
Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson managed to work the rest of the game without allowing a run.
What went wrong?
Placido Polanco was 0-5.
The Braves managed to win tonight against the Cardinals, keeping the lead for the Phillies at just a game.
Game Analysis:
It's nice to see the Phils come together when Roy Halladay doesn't always have his best stuff. After Halladay gave up three runs in the bottom of the third inning, the Phillies rallied for four runs of their own in the fourth inning, and that was all that they would need tonight. Halladay still pitched into the eighth inning, and Ryan Howard and Chase Utley hit home runs for the Phils in another win.
It's getting to the point where Roy Halladay pitching into the eighth inning, regardless of how things are going, is looking like a disappointment. That's just how well he's been pitching for the Phillies this year. In 30 starts, he's managed 28 decisions, and since his last no decision, he's gone 8-3. That's what this team needs right now, and he's one of the biggest reasons why the Phillies are now sitting in first place. Did it hurt to give up the prospects that the Phillies did to get Roy Halladay? Of couse it did, and it hurt to get rid of Cliff Lee, too. When looking at everything now, though, Halladay is helping the Phillies get into the playoffs again and is the front runner towards the National League Cy Young Award, and Cliff Lee is struggling down in Arlington. It looks like the Phils have made the right moves, and it's coming back to help them out at the moment.
Halladay wasn't great tonight, but he got things done. His only problem inning was the third, when he gave up a base hit to the opposing pitcher that turned into three runs. Luckily, he turned things around with a two RBI single in the fourth inning, and that was all the Phils needed tonight. Roy didn't have his best stuff, but he had enough, and that was more than good enough against the Mets tonight. New York doesn't have the best offense in baseball, and while Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright can hit the ball, they couldn't do it tonight against Halladay, save for Beltran's home run in the third. The bullpen was excellent as well, as Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson each came in to finish off the game. I wish that Madson had gotten more than just one day off, but it's how the Phillies are playing right now. They need their best out there for every game.
On offense, it's safe to say that Ryan Howard is back. For the fourth time this month, Howard launched a home run, and he's hitting .324 so far in September. I don't know what turns him into such a beast as the season gets toward the end, but it happens every year, and Philadelphia fans love it. Even though this is going to be the first season that Howard doesn't hit 40 home runs, he's still having a good season by any standards, and that's with a trip to the disabled list thrown in there as well. Had he not had to make that trip, you can only figure that his numbers would be similar to every other year. Howard is still going to hit 30 home runs and have over 100 RBI, and that's all that I want out of him this season. Considering how everything has gone for the Phils this season, that's the most anyone can expect from him right now. Sure, Jayson Werth is almost on pace with Howard for home runs, but he's lagging a lot in RBI, and Howard has been everything that he needs to be in the cleanup spot this year. Everyone is calling 2010 the "Year of the Pitcher," and Howard still has 30 home runs and 100 RBI. What does that make you think about him?
The rest of the offense stepped things up tonight as well. Every starter, save for Placido Polanco, reached base at least once, and all but Polanco and Shane Victorino scored tonight. That's the complete game effort that the Phillies need through the rest of the regular season. There is no number one player on the offense this year, though Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth are trying. Every single person that starts needs to contribute, and they did that tonight. The bottom of the lineup came through in the fourth inning as they helped make way for a four run showing, and even Roy Halladay drove in two runs. As long as this team can keep playing the way that they did tonight, they'll be just fine for the rest of the season.
Tomorrow, Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.89 ERA) tries not to suck once again. He'll be facing Mike Pelfrey (13-9, 3.96 ERA).
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