Phillies Brush Away Braves
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, July 02, 2008 08:21 AM | Comments: 8
Posts
Maybe the magic elixir is the National League, after all.
The Phillies took a quick 5-0 lead thanks to a string of hits and a couple home runs, then held on until the offense could blow it open in the ninth for an 8-3 win. Kyle Kendrick went six innings for the win — he’s now 8-3. He pitched well enough to grab a deserved win, and yes, it was — say it with me — a Kendrickian start.
The offense was the story … finally. They rattled off six-consecutive hits in the third inning, including a two-run laser-beam home run from Shane Victorino. He had four RBI. Geoff Jenkins contributed two hits to the effort, a double and single. All of the first six hitters in the lineup had two hits.
Pat Burrell also hit a homer, his 20th of the season. The Phils put it away in the ninth with a Victorino single. Before that, JC Romero and Tom Gordon did their jobs — albeit with small difficulty — to hold onto the lead. Brad Lidge pitched an easy ninth to sweep up the Braves. A good win, absolutely, and thankfully.
Associated Press photo
Posts: 0 Bear Mike
The Phillies are in 1st place by 1.5 games despite all of the negative comments on this board about trading away top players because of a horrible couple of weeks. Amazing! Get a solid replacement for Myers, get Jenkins to produce at his historic levels, start Coste regualarly, and this team will certainly win the NL East. Beyond that, it’s a crap shoot. Regardless of what happens, the Phillies always make it interesting, especially when the offense is firing on all cylinders.
A 3-0 bases loaded pitch to Jenkins and Cholly green lights him????? Dude, what are you thinking???? I realize it’s a confidence booster, but that was not the time to do it.
Posted: 10:13 AM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
He does that all the time, the 3-0 green light… he thinks its a great way to get guys to bust out of a slump. It worked for Feliz earlier in the year…
If Rollins and Victorino get on base, we win… if they don’t we don’t… simple as that
Posted: 10:28 AM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Coste starting everyday is not the issue. What will it take for people to realize that? COSTE CAN NOT CALL A GAME!!! I understand Ruiz loses us games when he GIDP with bases loaded, but he calls an incredible game. We are something like 29-17 when Ruiz starts and 16-17 hen Coste starts. I forget the exact stats, but it’s overwhelming. I know Coste can hit, and I know Ruiz can’t, but for a catcher it’s more about calling a game, especially with this bad rotation.
Posted: 10:33 AM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
good call Phil…. they are supposed to have so much offense in this lineup that they dont care what Ruiz does at the plate.. and Coste is a pretty good hitter.. but there is a reason that it took him so long to get to the majors… He’d be best suited as a 3rd catcher/ DH on the KC Royals or the Blue Jays or something.
Posted: 10:40 AM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Coste will be nice when you have lou marson out there. until then, we have to suffer through carlos ruiz. who should just be DFA’d because noone will giv eyou anything for him
Posted: 10:44 AM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Ruiz is a good catcher…. just not a good hitter.. and if Howard and Burrell would show any sign of consistency.. they wouldn’t need Ruiz to be hitting the ball
Posted: 10:51 AM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 gavin
True…..if the rest of the lineup does what they SHOULD do, who gives a crap if Ruiz hits.
Posted: 12:23 PM on July 2, 2008
Posts: 0 Bruce
Phil says~ “We are something like 29-17 when Ruiz starts and 16-17 hen Coste starts..”
Those stats can be misleading when you factor in game situations such as the Phillies’ offensive problems (RISP) in low scoring games, pitchers with control problems (Myers), etc. Ruiz caught a good game with kendricks last night. However, did you forget when Kendrick tossed that masterful 8 inning shutout in Oakland (June 25), it was Coste behind the plate calling the pitches? And for Kendrick especially, he needs that guiding hand to keep hitters off balance.
Posted: 01:18 PM on July 2, 2008