Phillies Recap: October 3, 2009

Florida Marlins 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3

W - Sanchez (4-8), L - Hamels (10-11), S - Nunez (26)

The Phillies played a full lineup but replaced starters earlier in a losing effort. Cole Hamels pitched the first three innings and surrendered some runs, but as just in to get some work. The Phils also got a pretty good look at their bullpen pieces as they prepare for the playoffs. Meanwhile the Marlins got a solid start from Anibal Sanchez again and despite losing a couple of their stars to injuries, won the game by a final of 4-3.

The game was basically meaningless to the Phillies, who learned that they would be assured home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Hamels went three shaky innings, after allowing runs in the first and second innings. He gave up three earned and struck out two. It was not an encouraging performance, but he is still in line to pitch game one or two for the defending world champions. The bullpen looked much better, with five different players throwing an inning or more.

Anibal Sanchez showed once again why he used to be considered a star prospect. Sanchez went seven strong innings against the Phillies again to pick up his second win in as many starts against them. He allowed one earned run on a Ryan Howard solo homer and five hits. Sanchez walked a pair and fanned three on the day. The Marlins bullpen came in and was shaky, as the Phillies put together some late rallies, but they came up short as the Marlins closed out their 87th victory of the season.

This will be one of the last losses this season that doesn't mean anything to the Phillies. The most important thing at this point is to stay rested and healthy as they enter the post season for the third straight year. Entering the final day of play, the Phillies cannot impact the playoffs in any meaningful way, therefore look for a lot of substitutes to get playing time. The starters will rest and relax and prepare for game one of the NLDS on Wednesday.

Phillies Recap: October 2, 2009

Florida Marlins 7, Philadelphia Phillies 2

W - VandenHurk (3-2), L - Blanton (12-8)

The Phillies were once again flat as Joe Blanton was jumped on by the aggressive Marlins lineup. Kirk VandenHurk was strong for the Marlins, keeping the Phillies shut down and the Marlins tacked on runs late to put the game away. Despite playing with a partial team, the Phillies lost a tough game tonight, as they pursue the best record in the National League. By the end of the night, the Phillies had been dealt a 7-2 loss.

Joe Blanton had his second straight rough start, allowing a lot of early runs on the night. Once the Phillies fell behind in the second inning, they would never be back in the game. For the game, Blanton allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a pair of walks. He pitched into the seventh inning, but lasted on six official innings, and struck out only three. The Phillies bullpen allowed a few late runs that finished them off.

The Phillies offense was again stagnant against the Marlins, this time facing Kirk VandenHurk. Ryan Howard crushed his 44th homer of the season but the Phillies offense did almost nothing else. VandenHurk went six solid innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits and a walk. The Marlins bullpen was impressive, though, as they came in for three shut out innings.

Once again, the Phillies failed to make up ground in the hunt for the best record in the National League. With two games left, the Phillies are 92-68 and can still improve on last season's record. It will be interesting to see what they do with their lineup the last two games of the season and how the rotation sets up. It is still much too early to tell who and where the Phillies will play in the first round of the playoffs.

Phillies Recap: September 26, 2009

Milwaukee Brewers 7, Philadelphia Phillies 5

W - Hoffman (2-2), L - Walker (2-1)

The Phillies jumped all over Braden Looper and the Brewers and took a 4-0 lead in support of Kyle Kendrick. However, the team just couldn't hold the lead and allowed the Brewers to claw their way back into the game. With the game tied going into the ninth, the Brew Crew won the game on a walk-off home run by Ryan Braun. The final score was 7-5 in a game that the Phillies really should have won.

Sloppy defense and a shaky start by Kyle Kendrick did not help to preserve the Phillies' early lead. Kendrick started off strong but quickly began to fall apart, allowing base hits and walks. In four innings, Kendrick allowed two runs on six hits and a pair of walks. He fanned four but was lifted early as he never really looked in control of the game. Jamie Moyer came on and gave the Phillies four solid innings of relief, but was the victim of some poor defense that allowed the game to be tied late. The Phillies bullpen then allowed the walk-off home run to Braun.

Braden Looper was not especially good and the Phillies touched him up for four early runs. However, he did seem to settle in and held the Brewers close for six innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and walk, while striking out five. The Brewers' bullpen again came in and shut down the Phillies offense for the final three innings. Ryan Howard did hit his 43rd homer of the season in the losing effort.

In a game that featured five errors and poor play from both sides, the Phillies can only blame themselves for this loss. They built an early lead that they couldn't hold on to and failed to add much to their lead late in the game. The tandem of Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer did fairly well, but got little help from the rest of the team. That led to the dramatic finish, which leaves the Phillies' magic number at four with eight games left to play.

Phillies Recap: September 25, 2009

Milwaukee Brewers 8, Philadelphia Phillies 4

W - Parra (11-10), L - Lee (7-3), S - Hoffman (36)

Cliff Lee gave up a big first inning and the Phillies were never able to make a full comeback. Lee settled down for a bit and allowed the Phillies to get close, but another big fifth inning befell Lee. Manny Parra pitched well for the Brewers, keeping the Phillies off balance and going deep into the game. By the time all of the scoring was done, the Brewers had won the game by a final of 8-4.

Cliff Lee had a shaky start and a shaky finish to his outing. He did toss six innings to help save the Phillies' pen, but did not have an effective start. The Brewers tagged him for four runs in the first inning to set the tone of the game. Lee gave up seven runs overall, over six innings, while allowing nine hits including two long balls. Lee struck out six on the evening, but it was not the kind of start he was looking for. Brad Lidge pitched an inning in middle relief, allowing an earned run, as it appears that he will no longer be used as the closer for the foreseeable future.

For the Brewers, their offense was the story. But Manny Parra pitched a very solid game, behind the scenes. Parra went seven strong innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and a walk. He whiffed eight Phillies on the night and earned his 11th win of the season. The game got closer late, but the Brewers' bullpen hung on to lock up the victory. Ryan Howard was the offensive star for the Phillies, driving in three runs.

This was not what the Phillies were looking for. On a night when all of their closest competitors won, it was a big game for them. Cliff Lee had a rocky start and put the team in an immediate hole. The offense, which had been so efficient a night earlier, struggled to get anything going against Parra. For now, their magic number remains at four and they will try to bounce back tomorrow night.

Phillies Recap: September 23, 2009

Florida Marlins 7, Philadelphia Phillies 6

W - Meyer (3-1), L - Lidge (0-8)

The Phillies built a lead in the finale of the three-game set with the Fish, but the bullpen was unable to hold on. Behind the strength of Cole Hamels' start and Ryan Howard's four RBI, the Phillies led late in the game. But out of the pen, the Phillies gave up three runs, including the game-winning runs off of Brad Lidge. In the end, the Marlins had a walk-off win by the final of 7-6.

Cole Hamels pitched well and kept the Phillies in the game, as they built their lead. He did get touched up a bit for some runs, but left with the lead. Hamels went seven innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, including two long balls. He did strike out four but failed to pick up his 11th win of the season. Brad Lidge was called on to hold a one-run lead and gave up a ninth inning rally for his 11th blown save of the season.

For the Marlins, their young hurler, Rick VandenHurk started shaky but settled in nicely to keep the Marlins in the game. The Phillies had chances to blow the game wide open, but did not execute well on offense early. Ryan Howard drove in four runs, though, including his 42nd home run of the season. VandenHurk went six innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk. He fanned five Phillies. The Marlin bullpen gave up just a couple of runs, but locked down the win.

This was another infuriating loss for the Phillies. They are on the doorstep of another playoff berth but have stumbled of late. The NL East race still seems comfortable for the defending champs, but the play of the bullpen has been horrifying. With the closer's role up in the air, the Phillies really need to get strong starts and solid offensive performances down the stretch.

Phillies Recap: September 22, 2009 - Game One

Philadelphia Phillies 9, Florida Marlins 3

W - Blanton (11-7), L - Johnson (15-5)

The Phillies came out to play this afternoon and put together a lead on one of the league's best pitchers. After scoring four runs off of the Marlins' Josh Johnson, they had knocked him out of the game. Joe Blanton pitched a masterpiece for the Phillies, who added to their lead in support of Blanton, and took game one of the double header by a score of 9-3.

Joe Blanton turned in the performance that the Phillies were looking for, as he shut down the Marlin offense. Blanton went seven strong innings on the afternoon, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out nine. Blanton did not allow any runs. He was in complete control the entire game and the Marlins rarely threatened him. After exiting the game, the Phillies' bullpen decided to make the game a little more interesting, allowing a late rally, but they held on to close out the game.

For the Marlins, this was not what they hoped for from Josh Johnson. Despite being a strike out machine once again, he gave up a number of hits in big situations that led to his demise. The Phillies also worked his pitch count well. On the day, Johnson only lasted five innings, giving up four earned runs while striking out ten. The Phillies real damage came in the top of the eighth inning when they put a five-spot on the board, accented by Raul Ibanez's 32nd homer of the year. Ryan Howard added three RBI on the day, which puts him at 126 for the season.

This was what Phillies fans wanted to see. With a couple of starters getting the afternoon off, the Phillies took care of business against the ace, Johnson. Their offense seemed to be firing on all cylinders and they put up a high run total without relying on the long ball. Their base running was impeccable and they got the win to lower their magic number to 5. They will look to carry the momentum into game two tonight and sweep their second double header of the month.

The Most Prolific Run-Producer Today

Ryan Howard has been called many things in his career. In 2005, he was called the Rookie of the Year. In 2006, it was the Most Valuable Player. Over his big league career, which has only spanned about four and a half full seasons, Howard has also been a player of the month, an All-Star, a Silver Slugger, a Home Run Champion, a Hank Aaron award winner, a Home Run Derby Champion, and a World Champion. He has been producing runs and homering at a prolific rate. And there's no end in sight.

For his career, Howard has already eclipsed the 200 home run and 600 RBI marks. He was the fastest to 200 long balls, and the fastest since a guy named Ted Williams to 600 RBI. Howard owns the Phillies' single-season record for home runs, annihilating Mike Schmidt's previous record of 48. Credit smaller ball parks and juicier balls that play to the modern-day fan's desire to see majestic home runs, but Ryan Howard could hit any ball out of any park, just about any time he wants to. At a tender age of 29, Howard could conceivably have another six to eight years of continued production at this rate.

Let's take a look at Howard through his first six seasons, through action on September 19th:

2004: 42 PA, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .282 BA, .564 SLG

2005: 348 PA, 22 HR, 63 RBI, .288 BA, .567 SLG

2006: 704 PA, 58 HR, 149 RBI, .313 BA, .659 SLG

2007: 648 PA, 47 HR, 136 RBI, .268 BA, .584 SLG

2008: 700 PA, 48 HR, 146 RBI, .251 BA, .543 SLG

2009: 641 PA, 41 HR, 123 RBI, .271 BA, .564 SLG

For a player who made his major league debut at the age of 24, and didn't begin playing regularly until he was almost 26, we can only wonder what Howard's production could have been, had he been promoted earlier. Here is his career averages for a 162 game season:

162 Game Avg.: 696 PA, 49 HR, 140 RBI, .277 BA, .585 SLG

Those numbers are enough to have Howard in an MVP conversation every single year. And for the past four seasons, Howard has found himself in the top 10 in voting for the MVP. But extrapolate those numbers over the next few years, and you will start to see the truly stunning numbers. For argument's sake, let's be conservative and assume that after 2009, Howard maintains this production for six more seasons. If Ryan Howard can stay healthy and do that, he projects to reach 517 home runs and 1,475 runs batted in by the end of the 2015 season. With those numbers, he has to at least be in the conversation for the Hall of Fame.

Howard recently joined Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey, Jr., two players synonymous with power with the second-longest string of 40-homer, 120-RBI seasons. A guy named Babe Ruth put together seven straight seasons of the kind. But with the way Howard is going, it is not unreasonable that he can duplicate a 40/120 season for four more years and break the Babe's record. Howard is also the second Phillie to record four straight 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons, after Chuck Klein did it nearly 80 years ago. He sits sixth on the Phillies' all-time home run list, and projects to catapult into second place in just one more season.

For now, however, Howard is not thinking about the Hall of Fame or 500 home runs. Right now, it's all about winning, which makes his feats that much more incredible. Howard has produced these numbers on a winning team, that is consistently in playoff and championship contention. There is no harder place to play, than in front of the passionate Philadelphia fans. And Ryan has handled it all with a gentle class that is rarely seen from prima donna athletes, especially power hitters. Right now, Howard is the most prolific run-producer in baseball. If he keeps it up, he has a chance to become a legendary run-producing icon.

Phillies Recap: September 19, 2009

Atlanta Braves 6, Philadelphia Phillies 4

W - Vazquez (14-9), L - Martinez (5-1)

The Philadelphia Phillies came out flat tonight. Pedro Martinez never got into a groove and struggled with his command, in his shortest outing that wasn't interrupted by rain. The Braves did a good job tacking on runs in support of Javier Vazquez and they managed to hold off a late-game surge by the Phillies. In the end, the Braves defeated the Phillies and ended their winning streak by a final of 6-4.

For Pedro Martinez, this was not the start he was looking for, after dominating in his last start. He went just three innings, as he battled inconsistency and control issues. The Braves tagged him for three earned runs on seven hits, many of which came with two strikes. However, the Phillies' bullpen was not much better. Chad Durbin came in and allowed the game to get out of hand, as the Braves scored three more runs and put the game out of reach. Unfortunately, for a staff that has been so strong lately, this was not the pitching performance the Phillies were looking for.

The Braves shut down the Phillies' offense for the most of the night, thanks to a strong performance by Javier Vazquez. Vazquez kept the Phillies off balance and off the base paths for seven strong innings. He allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out six. The Phillies didn't score until the ninth inning, when they put four runs on the board and nearly tied the game. Ryan Howard homered again, his 41st on the season, but in the end, it was not enough to dig out of their hole.

This was a tough game for the Phillies. They got nothing going against Vazquez and were out-pitched badly. Their offense showed some heart late with the rally, but they came up short. Their magic number remains at eight, as they lose ground in the division and in pursuit of the best record in the National League. Tomorrow, they will need to bounce back and win the series against a hungry Braves team.

Phillies Recap: September 18, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 9, Atlanta Braves 4

W - Kendrick (2-1), L - Hudson (1-1)

The Phillies battled injuries and a tough Braves team to find a way to win their 86th game of the season. Jay Happ went three innings before being lifted as a precautionary measure. Kyle Kendrick came on in long relief and really helped the Phillies' bullpen. Carlos Ruiz also suffered a sprained wrist on a play at the plate. For the Braves, Tim Hudson was solid but was hurt by his nemesis, Ryan Howard's two homers. When all the scoring was done, the Phillies found themselves on the right side of a 9-4 decision.

Happ came back and showed signs of his mid-season form, but struggled with his command at times. In his three innings, he allowed just a solo homer and scattered five hits in all. The real story for the pitching, though, was Kyle Kendrick who came in for long relief and delivered four blank innings. It was another promising performance for the once-outed right-hander. The Phillies bullpen was mostly saved and finished off the game, once it was out of reach.

On offense, the story tonight was the long ball. Ryan Howard punished Tim Hudson once again with another pair of homers off the righty. Hudson went seven solid innings, though, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a walk. However, once the Phillies got into the Braves' pen, they unleashed their offense. Jimmy Rollins delivered the keynote with a three-run shot in the ninth that put the game out of reach for good. Ben Francisco put in a solid night's work with three hits including a homer of his own.

This was a bittersweet win for the Phillies. It was an important one in the standings, but costly for the roster. It is unclear the extent of the injuries to Happ and Ruiz, but both situations are certainly concerning. The catching depth on the Phillies' roster is minimal, so if Ruiz is out for an extended period of time, the Phils will be essentially crippled at that position. For now, the Phillies can take some pleasure in their win, as they move to 26 games over .500 and drop their magic number to eight.

The Remarkable Jayson Werth

After watching Jayson Werth demolish his second grand slam of the season tonight, Phillies fans must have wondered where this guy came from. A journeyman outfielder who was set back by a terrible wrist injury has finally received a chance to play full time. And he has exceeded expectations that were once very lofty.

Last season, Werth was slated as a platoon right fielder with Geoff Jenkins. He demanded to play full time and has shown that he is fully capable. Buried on a team that features former MVPs like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, and one of the best players in the game in Chase Utley, Werth is often overlooked. But now, carrying the duty of the team's primary right-handed stick in the middle of a stacked line up, Jayson Werth could very well be the Phillies' MVP this season.

In what will be his highest games total in his career, 2009 has been a magnificent this year. The knocks on Werth have always been his lack of hitting against right handed pitchers and his streakiness. This season, in which Jayson earned an All Star appearance, Werth has shown that he can handle the righties. And Werth has had his most consistent seasons of his career, with his homer totals each month this season are 2, 6, 7, 7, 7, and 5. Let's take a closer look at what he has done this year, through tonight's action:

2009 Stats: 141 G, 90 R, 34 HR, 88 RBI, .272 BA

versus RHP: 137 G, 60 R, 21 HR, 53 RBI, .258 BA

Some might consider the circumstances of Werth's break-out season a byproduct of home field advantage. This is not the case, though, as Werth has put up nearly identical statistics at Citizens Bank Park and on the road. Take a look at his home/away splits:

Home: 71 G, 48 R, 19 HR, 48 RBI, .259 BA

Away: 70 G, 42 R, 15 HR, 40 RBI, .285 BA

The 30 year old outfielder has certainly also brought a professional glove with him, as always. He is versatile and has spent time at all three outfield positions this season, and never misses a beat. Despite six errors this season that have led to a modest .981 fielding percentage, Werth has a career-high 11 outfield assists this year, including four double plays. He has one of the best arms in the game, and the threat of that keeps countless runs stranded at third base. His defensive speed is the perfect compliment to Shane Victorino in center field.

In the batting line up, Werth typically hits 2nd, 5th, or 6th. It would seem logical that as he has proven his consistency, the five-hole would suit Werth and allow the Phillies to split up their lefty hitters. Additionally, he will be in prime RBI-situations and can also balance the order with his speed. As the Phillies move towards the playoffs, it would make sense, especially against teams with multiple lefties in their pens, to use this configuration. However, based on the results of the 2009 season, it really doesn't matter where Jayson Werth hits, throws, or plays; he will be great.

Phillies Recap: September 7, 2009

Houston Astros 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3

W - Wright (3-2), L - Park (3-3), S - Valverde (22)

Jamie Moyer got a spot-start for the Phillies, replacing the ailing Jay Happ. He pitched very well over six innings but the Phillies bullpen failed to hold a lead, the Phillies were swept by the Houston Astros. Behind a pair of solo homers, the Phillies took a lead against Brian Moehler and the Astros, but that was wiped away by the final score of 4-3.

Pitching on short notice, Jamie Moyer proved that he still has something to offer the team. He went out and tossed six solid innings in place of Jay Happ. Moyer surrendered two earned runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out four and allowed a home run. Unfortunately, Chan Ho Park came in and allowed the deciding runs on a pair of hits and three walks.

The Phillies offense was again stagnant. They did manage a pair of solo home runs from Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, but got little else going against Brian Moehler. Moehler tossed 5.2 innings and allowed three earned runs but the Astros got him off the hook for the loss. He scattered five hits and walked three. However, once they had the lead, the Astros strung together five relievers to seal the victory.

In what was yet another frustrating loss, the Phillies dropped all four games of the series and got swept out of Houston. In a weekend highlighted by poor offense and not quite enough pitching, the Phillies fell to 77-58 on the season. Their magic number remains at 21 and their lead in the NL East is just six games. The team will look to regroup in Washington this week for a three game set.

Ryan Howard is a Finisher

Ryan Howard is a finisher. He has been, ever since he arrived in the league in 2005. That season, filling in for an injured Jim Thome, he played a partial season, and won the NL Rookie of the Year award. A season later, the Phillies' first baseman got off to an average start, before really turning it on in what would become his signature, Most Valuable Player campaign. In the last three seasons, Howard has started slow. But when the end of summer approached, and the Phillies reached the playoff atmosphere, the 'Big Man' was at his best.

Obviously, a win in April counts the same as a win in September. The runs produced in those games, that contribute to wins are equally important. It is the pressure and the importance of those runs that is magnified later in the season. Having a player like Ryan Howard on your ball club, who can carry your team for weeks at time, is rare. With all of the Phillies' great hitters, when it comes down to crunch time, they rely on Howard the most. And he delivers.

Ryan Howard's production is unquestioned. Over the course of a full season, he is one of the top run-producers in the game. He is a threat to hit a home run to any field at all times. He is consistently at the top of the league in slugging percentage, runs batted in, and long balls. Take a peak at his statistics over the course of the years, including this year, through Friday's action:

2005: 348 PA, .288 BA, 22 HR, 63 RBI, .567 SLG

2006: 704 PA, .313 BA, 58 HR, 149 RBI, .659 SLG

2007: 648 PA, .268 BA, 47 HR, 136 RBI, .584 SLG

2008: 700 PA, .251 BA, 48 HR, 146 RBI, .543 SLG

2009: 577 PA, .273 BA, 37 HR, 113 RBI, .566 SLG

Let's take a look at Howard's production in the final 60 games of each of his big league seasons. This would normally encompass most of August and September, which has been the stretch-run for the Phillies. Here are his stats, with 2009 being after 102 ball games, to this date:

2005: 227 PA, .301 BA, 16 HR, 44 RBI, .607 SLG

2006: 283 PA, .366 BA, 24 HR, 64 RBI, .755 SLG

2007: 269 PA, .260 BA, 18 HR, 51 RBI, .547 SLG

2008: 256 PA, .281 BA, 19 HR, 58 RBI, .615 SLG

2009: 129 PA, .297 BA, 11 HR, 35 RBI, .669 SLG

With thirty games remaining, Howard is putting together his best late-season run since his MVP season in 2006. But every year, since he began playing full time, is marked by a dramatic increase in production during the final two months of the season. With the Phillies offense struggling down the stretch this year, they will again look to Ryan Howard to pick up the slack.

There's really no trend or explanation for why Howard does better later in the season. Perhaps it is a result of tired pitching arms. It might also have to do with the established hitters around Howard getting more respect, as the season moves on. But more likely than not, it can be said that Howard is a beast, that picks this team up on his shoulders and carries them to the playoffs. He has done it year after year now, and he's doing it again in 2009. We can all just sit back and enjoy the show from the league's premier power hitter.

Phillies Recap: September 5, 2009

Houston Astros 5, Philadelphia Phillies 4
W - Valverde (3-2), L - Lidge (0-7)

For most of the night, Roy Oswalt shut the Phillies down. However, he left in the seventh inning due to a stiff back and Joe Blanton kept the Phils close. A couple of two-run innings late propelled the Phillies to a brief lead, but Brad Lidge blew yet another save. The Astros defeated the Phillies by a final score of 5-4.

Joe Blanton got off to a rough start as Hunter Pence drilled another two-run homer and later added an RBI-single. However, as always, Blanton battled tough and kept the Phillies and their struggling offense close. On the night, Blanton went six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Brett Myers came back from his hip injury and pitched a scoreless frame before Brad Lidge blew his tenth save of the season.

For the Astros, Roy Oswalt was dominant for them. He racked up strike outs early and rarely allowed base runners. After going 6.1 scoreless innings, he exited the game with a sore back. The Phillies would go on to add two earn runs off of him, while striking out eight times. The Astros bullpen yielded two more runs in the eighth, keynoted by Ryan Howard's RBI-triple. But yet again, the Phillies failed to score tack-on runs, leaving the bases loaded in the eighth inning. It would eventually cost them the ball game.

This was a devastating loss for the Phillies, who have now dropped back-to-back games against the Astros. Another weak offensive performance was almost enough, before Brad Lidge surrendered the game winning runs. It has to be very concerning for the Phillies that their offense and their closer have struggled so much down the stretch. Fortunately, they have a large enough lead in the East to regroup before things get too tight.

Phillies Recap: September 3, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 2, San Francisco Giants 1

W - Martinez (3-0), L - Lincecum (13-5), S - Lidge (28)

From the outset, this looked like a pitcher's duel in the making. Anyone expecting a stellar start from Pedro Martinez and Tim Lincecum was not disappointed. The Phillies managed to scratch out two runs off of the young Lincecum and Pedro shut down the Giants after giving up a lead off homer and the Phillies won the game and the series by a score of 2-1.

Pedro Martinez was sharp all night. The very first pitch he threw was crushed for a solo home run by Eugenio Velez of the Giants. After that though, it was all Pedro, as he matched zeroes with Lincecum most of the rest of the way. In all, Martinez gave up five hits and one earned run, while not allowing a walk. Pedro also struck out a season-high nine batters en route to his third win in a Phils uniform.

It was a tough night for Tim Lincecum, even though he fanned 11. His pitch count got up after seven innings and he was lifted for a pinch hitter. He didn't get much run support, despite an early lead and the Phillies offense finally got to him. Jayson Werth hit a moon shot for his 30th homer of the season, while Ryan Howard continued his late-season assault with an RBI-double, which was the difference in the game. The Phils were unable to tack on runs but their bullpen held the lead and dealt Lincecum his fifth loss of the season.

This was a huge win for the Phillies against a quality opponent and a star pitcher. Despite not scoring much, they did just enough and got the best start of the season from Pedro Martinez. The victory was important at home, as they took two of three from the Giants and moved to 77-54 on the season. The Phillies now have their magic number down to 23 and that could shrink, pending play tonight.

Phillies Recap: September 1, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 1, San Francisco Giants 0

W - Hamels (8-8), L - Sanchez (6-11)

Cole Hamels was masterful tonight. Nearly perfect on the night, Hamels dealt nothing but unhittable strikes to the Giants hitters all night. The Phillies didn't do much better against Jonathan Sanchez, but they squeezed out a run in the fourth inning. On a night where pitching dominated the story, the Phillies behind Cole Hamels won the ball game by a final of 1-0.

It had to feel good for Cole Hamels, who threw the shutout for the Phillies. He pitched as well as he has all season, and tossed his second consecutive quality start. Aside from a second inning double by Ryan Garko, Hamels gave the Giants next to nothing. He allowed two hits and a walk on the night and never really came close to being in a jam. Hamels wiffed nine hitters over his complete game gem, and picked off a runner. After giving up the hit in the second, Hamels proceeded to retire 21 straight Giants hitters without breaking a sweat.

Jonathan Sanchez was the hard-luck loser for the Giants, as he pitched well but battled a high pitch count. As a result, he was out of the game after six strong innings in which he gave up three hits, three walks, and one earned run. He struck out eight Phillies on the night but surrendered an RBI double to Ryan Howard which proved to be the difference in the game. The Giants bullpen came into the game and shut the Phillies down for a couple of innings, but by then, it was too late, as the outcome was all but decided.

Before the game, we knew this was a big game for the Phillies. It was equally as big for Cole Hamels, who seemed to really have his confidence and swagger working all night. The early hit by Garko stole some of the drama that would have filled the ball park, had Hamels been working a perfect game. However, everything came together for the Phillies, who won a game the way they will need to against a strong pitching team like the Giants.

Phillies Recap: August 28, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 4, Atlanta Braves 2

W - Moyer (12-9), L - Hanson (9-3), S - Lidge (26)

For the second straight start at home, Pedro Martinez threw only a couple of innings. That seems to be a recipe for success, as Jamie Moyer came in, in relief of Pedro, and picked up a win after a couple of rain delays. Behind the power of Ryan Howard's two home runs, the Phillies defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves by a score of 4-2.

Pedro Martinez looked good early on, before the rain came. He was relieved by Jamie Moyer, who threw 4.1 innings to earn the win. Moyer allowed an earned run and struck out five. Despite a threat by the Braves in the eighth inning, the Phillies held the game under control from start to finish. In the ninth, Brad Lidge came in with a spotless frame and added a strike out to pick up his 26th save of the season. He looked like the old Lidge and the fans really got behind him the whole way through the inning.

While Tommy Hanson did return after the first rain delay, he did not survive the second. While he was in, he was touched up for a homer by Ryan Howard. Later in the fourth inning, Howard pounded his second home run of the night, a two-run bomb to dead center field. In the seventh, the Phils added an all-important tack-on run but spoiled an opportunity for more in the eighth. However, for a game played on a slick field, the offense can get a pass as the pitching picked them up.

This was a great win for the Phillies, who got more stellar pitching from the bullpen. The save by Lidge has to be somewhat promising, and Jamie Moyer excelled again in his long-man role. The story of the night though was Ryan Howard, who hit his 36th and 37th homers of the season and now has his batting average up to .272. With the Marlins loss tonight, the Phillies have now opened up an eight game lead over both division foes that are chasing them.

Phillies Preview: August 25, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies (72-50) at Pittsburgh Pirates (51-71)

7:05pm - PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Joe Blanton, RHP (8-6, 3.86) v. Ross Ohlendorf, RHP (11-8, 4.15)

Joe Blanton is quietly putting together a solid season for the Phillies, though his record does not reflect how well he's pitched. Blanton will be opening the series against the Pirates and will look to take advantage of the young, inexperienced lineup. He will be opposed by Ross Ohlendorf, one of the Pirates' best starter this season. Ohlendorf leads the Pirates in wins and has posted a respectable ERA for most of the season.

Blanton will look to earn his ninth win of the season in Pittsburgh. In limited action against Pirates hitters, Blanton has held them to a .120 batting average over 53 plate appearances. The young Pirates lineup is aggressive and can be shut down easily. However, they also have some up-and-coming superstars, led by center fielder Andrew McCutchen. The goal for Joe Blanton tonight will be to feed off of his opponent's aggressiveness and pitch deep into the game.

Ross Ohlendorf will oppose Blanton tonight for Pittsburgh. Ohlendorf has put together a surprisingly good season, while pitching for a bad team. He is not an over-powering pitcher, but he is young and crafty. The righty will face one of the toughest challenges of his young career, as he takes on the red-hot Phillies. In 32 plate appearances, Phillies hitters are batting just .185 off Ohlendorf. But lately, they have been hot, which includes Ryan Howard, who always seems to finish seasons strong.

Tonight's game will be another test on the road for this Phillies team that has won 40 already away from home. They will need a strong performance from Joe Blanton to preserve the bullpen, as their next off day is not until next Monday. If the Phillies hitters can figure out Ohlendorf, it shouldn't be too hard for Blanton to find his way to win number nine on the season.

Phillies Recap: August 24, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 6, New York Mets 2

Cliff Lee battled some early blunders by his defense to pitch another solid game for the Phillies. He got all the run support he would need in the first inning, as Ryan Howard hit the first of his two home runs on the day. Bobby Parnell did his best to keep the Mets in the game, but they didn't have a chance against Lee. In the end, the Phillies won yet another solid game by the final score of 6-2.

The Phillies gave Cliff Lee (12-9) an early lead before almost giving it back. Two errors by Chase Utley in the first inning led to two unearned runs. However, Cliff Lee picked up his team and tossed seven innings of six-hit ball. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five Mets on the day. He lowered his ERA with the Phillies to an absurd 0.68. Lee is now 5-0 with the Phillies, and in 40.0 innings, he has allowed 24 hits, six walks, and just three earned runs, while striking out 39. Simply fantastic. Brad Lidge finished off the game, despite it not being a save situation, with a perfect ninth inning.

Bobby Parnell (3-6) went five innings and threw 101 solid pitches. Unfortunately for Parnell and the Mets, the other two pitches he tossed went for long home runs by Ryan Howard. Howard clobbered a three-run first inning homer before hitting another two-run shot in his next at bat. The Mets bullpen allowed one more run in the ninth inning for the final margin. All together, it wasn't a great performance by the Phillies offense, as they didn't threaten many other times. But, it was a perfect example of Ryan Howard carrying the team to a victory (with the help of Cliff Lee, of course).

The Phillies bounced back and won the final three games of the series after dropping the opener to the Mets. This was key, as they now are 72-50 on the season. Tomorrow, they will begin a three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the top pursuers out of action today, the Phillies now own a seven game lead in the NL East and are playing as well as they have all season. Today was the team's 40th win on the road this season.

Phillies Recap: August 21, 2009

New York Mets 4, Philadelphia Phillies 2

Cole Hamels once again struggled and the Phillies bats could not do much against the Mets' Mike Pelfrey. After waiting out a lengthy rain delay, the two teams played a game that was not as close as the score indicated. Despite two Met ejections, New York pulled out an entertaining 4-2 win over the Phillies.

Hamels (7-8) suffered from another high pitch count early on, and had difficulty putting away Mets hitters. The result was a two-run second and two-run third inning for the lefty. The bright side to Hamels' performance was that it could have been much worse, but he shut down the Mets when it mattered. In the second inning, Gary Sheffield struck out with the bases loaded. Hamels also stranded runners in most of his five innings of work, as we gave up four earned runs and struck out six.

Mike Pelfrey (9-8) pitched just well enough to win the ballgame. He wasn't especially sharp but neither were Phillies hitters, who managed a number of base runners against Pelfrey, but could not manage to find the clutch hit. As usual, just about all of the Phillies hit, but without home runs, they had trouble scoring. Ryan Howard did have an RBI single, giving him 99 on the season, but struck out to end the ball game, with the tying runs on base.

Overall, this was a tough loss for a Phillies team that was rolling high. The effort from Cole Hamels must have the team worried, but for now, they should have the pitching depth they need. They need a bounce-back effort tonight to avoid dropping more than one game to the hapless Mets.

Phillies Preview: August 21, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies (69-49) at New York Mets (56-65)
7:10pm - Citi Field, New York, NY

Cole Hamels, LHP (7-7, 4.69) v. Mike Pelfrey, RHP (8-8, 4.75)

The opener of the four-game set features probably the most even pitching match up of the series. Cole Hamels, the Phils' struggling ace will take the mound against the Mets' Mike Pelfrey. Both pitchers have suffered this season from inconsistencies, which have led to rather pedestrian stats for each. Nevertheless, this could be a tight affair, as Pelfrey defeated the Phillies earlier this season.

Cole Hamels has had a rough year. He will look to get back on track on the road, where he has struggled the most. His opponent, the New York Mets, will be a skeleton of the lineup they usually present. Nevertheless, Hamels will need to have good command of his fastball against the AAA Mets in order to have success. Current Mets are hitting a modest .235 against him in 109 plate appearances. Only Angel Pagan has homered against Hamels and with Gary Sheffield's status in doubt, Pagan may be the key target for Hamels.

The Mets will send their best right-hander, Mike Pelfrey to the mound to oppose Hamels. Pelfrey has had a mediocre season and sports a very high ERA. Nevertheless, he is a ground ball pitcher and has had some success against the Phillies in the past. Current Phillies are hitting .278 against him in 147 plate appearances, though. The heart of the Phillies order has been hot lately, and Ryan Howard in particular has great career numbers against Pelfrey, hitting .353 with a homer in 21 plate appearances. If Howard can continue to roll, so too can the Phillies against Pelfrey.

Tonight's game will be played in spacious Citi Field, on a hot humid night. There is a chance for some rain, but there is a better chance that the ball could be flying all over the place. If Pelfrey and Hamels are not keeping their offerings down in the zone, the game could be uncharacteristically high-scoring. Tonight will also mark my inaugural visit to Citi Field. For those Mets fans out there that want to greet me with some good-natured antagonism can find me in section 506, wearing a bright red Phillies hat, Chase Utley jersey, and a 'kick-me' sign on my back.