Phillies Nation

Jamie Moyer’s best start of 2009 happened to result in win No. 250 of his career. Moyer surrendered just three hits and a run in six innings, leading the Phillies to a 4-2 win and series sweep over the Nationals.

Moyer was his old self, keeping the Nationals off the bases and off balance all day. He was only nicked by a Josh Willingham home run. The slugger was hot, homering later off Clay Condrey. But Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge (another 1-2-3 save) closed the door for the Phils.

Ryan Howard continued his strong display with a big triple, and Raul Ibanez also knocked a three-bagger. Chase Utley added two hits. Chris Coste homered in his first at bat since last Sunday.

This one was all about Moyer, however, returning to form with a landmark victory.

Washington Nationals (13-35) at Philadelphia Phillies (27-20)
John Lannan (2-4, 4.11 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (3-5, 7.42 ERA)
Time: 1:35 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Weather: Mostly sunny, 76
TV: MyPhl 17
Twitter: Phillies Nation

Thanks to Ryan Howard’s mammoth home runs, the Phillies will win a home series. The big man led the way in a 9-6 win over the Nationals. The Phillies are now 9-2 against the Nationals this season.

Jamie Moyer still seeks win No. 250, and he’ll try to do it against a team he faced early this season and had some success against. He beat Washington April 13, going six innings and giving up four runs. If he repeats that outing and the offense can do what it’s done the last two nights, Moyer should get that elusive victory.

And the offense has seen John Lannan plenty of times; in two outings this season, the Phillies have hit him (10. 2 IP, 15 H), but they weren’t getting them all home (6 ER). Maybe Chase Utley can help that out — he’s 3-for-5 with two homers against Lannan this season.

The bullpen has done a great job lately, holding the last two very tense contests against Washington. Part of that is not letting the longball beat them — they have only allowed one home run in the last 52.2 innings (Alex Rodriguez).

The Phillies are 16-11 for May as we reach its final day.

Your gameday beer: Jamie Moyer, born in 1809, used to tend to sheep and dogs on his parents’ prairie house in eastern West Virginia. In his honor, drink a beer that signifies his birth year: 1809, from Brauerei Weihenstephan. This German “Berlin Style” Weissbeer is half pilsner and half wheat. It’s the perfect light and refreshing summer beer. Have a burger and an 1809.

Go Phillies!

Ryan Howard crushed two home runs — including a incredible third-deck grand slam — to lead the Phillies over the Nationals, 9-6.

Howard finished with five RBI for the game, almost single-handedly powering the Phils past Washington. The offensive effort saved Cole Hamels, who didn’t pitch well in giving up six runs over six innings. He did strike out seven in his outing, however. Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge picked up the slack yet again, holding the game after the offensive strike.

Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each collected two hits in the game.

Comcast Sportsnet just announced that Antonio Bastado will temporarily take Brett Myers’ spot in the rotation and pitch Tuesday against the San Diego Padres.

A roster move will be made prior to Sunday’s game.

Washington Nationals (13-34) at Philadelphia Phillies (26-20)
Shairon Martis (5-0, 4.86 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (2-2, 4.86 ERA)
Time: 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Weather: Sunny, 75
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Twitter: Phillies Nation

JA Happ threw an OK game against the Nationals, and though Washington made it close, the bullpen kept them down for the win. Now ace Cole Hamels comes to the mound to secure a series win.

Hamels pitched well against the Nationals April 28, but had to leave the game early with an injury. Since, however, Hamels has been close to dominant, going 2-0 with a 2.88 ERA.

The Nationals bring Shairon Martis to the mound. The Phillies know him plenty already, giving up nine earned runs in 11.1 innings. His first outing was very good; his second outing was horrendous. Martis has been good in the month of May, going 3-0 with a 4.05 ERA.

With his four-hit game Friday night against Washington, Shane Victorino lifted his average to .293. He was hitting .262 just a week ago.

Your gamenight beer: The Trippel Belgian Style Ale from the New Belgian Brewing Co. of Colorado is a nice American version of the tripel. There might be a little too much banana flavor in it, but it’s worthy of a drink or two with its sweetness. I’d enjoy some barbecued chicken and corn on the cob with this.

Go Phillies!

Who’s the right man for the job? Who can step in Tuesday for Brett Myers and put together a solid start?

Easy: It’s Carlos Carrasco

Go back to May 2006. On a Cincinnati night, the Phillies decided to finally let Cole Hamels start his major league career. He didn’t disappoint then, and after a year of acclimating to the majors, he hasn’t disappointed since. Hamels is, of course, one of the best starters in baseball today.

Carlos Carrasco isn’t Cole Hamels. He probably doesn’t project the same way as the outstanding lefty. But Carrasco has great stuff, the ability for dominance and the need for training in the major league level. Like Hamels before him, Carrasco has done everything he’s needed to do in the minors. Handcuffed with a completely misleading triple-A line, Carrasco is too big for the small britches of Allentown.

Carrasco is 0-6 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Those numbers look poor, but they only give you black-and-white readings. Look further, and you’ll see Carrasco has a FIP of 3.36. FIP is Fielding Independent Pitching, which accounts for only the things for which pitchers are responsible. It takes out fielding and the size of the ballpark. The 3.36 reads like an ERA. That, in triple-A, while carrying a strikeout-walk ratio of over 4:1 (58/15), shows Carrasco is ready. There’s no more holding him back.

Of course, one point about Carrasco people can’t ignore is his makeup. Reports are he can get frustrated, leading to the big inning. But throughout his career, Carrasco has held a left-on-base percentage near 75 percent. While it declined this season, the longer statistical overview shows consistency.

Really, one can’t help but wonder if Carrasco is tired of triple-A.

Like I said, he isn’t Cole Hamels, but Carrasco is a good pitcher ready to contribute to a major league team. And it should not be about burning options or starting his arbitration clock — he’s coming to the Phils in September, at the very least. Start him now. Get his feet wet. Would Kyle Kendrick or Andrew Carpenter really give you a better chance to win?

Don’t waste Carrasco’s talents anymore in triple-A. Start him Tuesday.

The Clearwater Threshers played the Charlotte Stone Crabs yesterday, and Kyle Drabek put together his best start yet: a complete game shutout. He allowed just five hits and a walk, striking out seven in the full nine, a 4-0 win.

Drabek is now 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA in A+ Clearwater.

In other action:

• Michael Taylor went 5-for-6 with a home run and four RBI in Reading’s 8-7 win Friday over New Hampshire. Taylor is second in the Eastern League in home runs (9), second in RBI (37) and third in hitting (.342). His 1.006 OPS is second in the EL.
• Lou Marson went 3-for-4 with an RBI in an IronPigs 5-3 loss to Rochester. It was another blown save in front of Carlos Carrasco, who went seven strong, striking out six while allowing two runs on six hits.

MLB.com reports the Phillies have placed Brett Myers on the 15-day disabled list, promoting reliever Sergio Escalona. In three appearances, the lefty is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, two strikeouts and no walks.

The Phillies have yet to name a starter for Tuesday’s game against the Padres.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports Ruben Amaro Jr. is in the market for one elite-level starting pitcher, whom he would like to acquire at or around the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Rosenthal names Erik Bedard and Roy Oswalt as possible targets, denying a mid- to low-level name such as Brad Penny.

They let the Nationals get close, but the Phillies sealed the deal, defeating Washington 5-4.

JA Happ got the win, going 5.2 innings and giving up three earned runs — two via Chad Durbin. Happ struck out five, walked three and hit two, showing mediocre control but only allowing three hits. Durbin brought the score from 5-1 to 5-4, but the rest of the bullpen (Scott Eyre, Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge) held the score. Lidge collected a 1-2-3 save with two strikeouts.

The Phillies scored three in the third, mostly thanks to a Raul Ibanez two-run single. Pedro Feliz, Carlos Ruiz and Chase Utley also collected RBI off pitcher Ross Detwiler, who allowed 10 hits. In all the Phils recorded 16 hits, but left 29 men on base. Not a recipe for success, but against the Nationals, it worked.