Phillies Nation

Photo: Joe Mahoney

If you were out last night, went to bed early, or simply changed the channel, you missed a good one. Freddy Galvis hit a pair of two run triples to make up for a rare defensive mishap and help erase a 7-2 deficit, leading to a 8-7 Phillies victory. The win pulls them back within one of the Nationals for second place and back to just 6.5 back of the Braves for first.

Pedestrian Kendrick

Kyle Kendrick did not make it through the fifth inning tonight, giving up seven earned via ten hits and two walks, including Carlos Gonzalez’s NL-lead tying 19th homer and a home to Josh Rutledge. Jeremy Horst entered the game in the fifth with a runner on and induced a double play but, down 7-2 by then, the game seemed quite out of hand.

Wake up the bats!

In the top of the sixth, the Phils started to chip away. After a Ryan Howard walk and a Kevin Frandsen single, Galvis hit his first triple. He would score on a Humberto Quintero ground out. In the top of the seventh, Domonic Brown led off the inning with a single and stole second base. Following a John Mayberry walk, Galvis hit his second triple of the night, scoring both Brown and Mayberry. Jimmy Rollins entered the game to pinch hit for Quintero and hit a single into right to put the Phillies ahead for good with the score 8-7.

Fantastic Bullpen

The bullpen went five and 2/3 scoreless, giving up three hits and a walk. Horst pitched 2/3 of an inning, while Michael Stutes picked up the win by pitching a scoreless sixth. Jake Diekman made his 2013 Phillies debut and joined Justin DeFratus and Mike Adams as Phillies pitchers who earned holds tonight. Jonathan Papelbon got his 13th save in 13 tries.

The Phillies send Jonathan Pettibone to the hill tomorrow at 4:10 PM as they look to win the series.

Philadelphia Phillies (32-35) vs. Colorado Rockies (35-32)

Kyle Kendrick (6-4 3.22 ERA) v. Juan Nicasio (4-2, 4.61 ERA)

Photo: me

Pregame: Phillies Nation TV at 7:30pm on CSN
Time: 8:40pm , Coors Field
TV: PHL17
Weather: 82, Mostly Cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook

The Phillies are in Denver to take on the Rockies for 3 games to close out their 3-city tour of the Midwest.  They are 2-5 on the road trip thus far, which is not surprising given that the Phils are averaging a paltry 3.06 runs per game on the road this season, worst in the majors.  On the flip side, they are 23-7 in games in which they have scored four or more runs and were 7-2 versus the Rockies last season.

Opposing the Phillies on the mound tonight will be Juan Nicasio, a 26-year old righty from the Dominican Republic.  This will be his first career start against Philadelphia and has just one win in his past eight outings.  You may recall back in 2011, he was drilled in the head with a batted ball and fractured a vertebrae in his neck.

Speaking of injuries, Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right rib fracture sustained in yesterday’s game against the Nationals.  Utilityman Josh Rutledge was recalled to take Tulo’s place and is hitting .242 in 43 MLB games this season.  In addition, two of Colorado’s hottest hitters, Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler, are listed as day-to-day after being injured in yesterday’s game as well.

Pitching for the Phillies is Kyle Kendrick who has has allowed two earned runs or less in 15 of his last 21 road starts dating back to 2011. He is 8-6 with a 2.84 ERA in those 21 starts.  Michael Young is 3 RBI away from 1,000 in his career, while Jimmy Rollins has the night off.  And finally, vote for Domonic Brown to start the All-Star Game!

Lineup: Revere CF, M Young 3B, Brown LF, Howard 1B, Frandsen 2B, Mayberry RF, Galvis SS, Quintero C, Kendrick P

Gameday Beer: Chocolate Rain

This imperial stout is carefully brewed by The Bruery out of Orange County, CA. The jet black beer is aged in bourbon barrels along with cocoa nibs and vanilla bean. It comes in both cans and bottles and has great stats – 19.5% ABV and 99/100 score from Beer Advocate.com. Try one with some grilled venison.

We know the Phils are on a bit of a slide, but cheer up, we’re giving away an easy $100 to be used on tickets to a Phillies game or just about any event.

PHOTO: AP

Which Phillie(s) should make the National League All-Star team?  How would you feel about Domonic Brown potentially participating in the 2013 Home Run Derby?  And lastly, do you have any problem with the Phillies organization asking fans to vote for ALL of the team’s position players, or with fans that vote only for Phillies players?

Eric Seidman: Cliff Lee and Domonic Brown should make the All-Star team from the Phillies, with Jonathan Papelbon being a potential selection as well, as the game means something and there are few closers better. A pitching staff with Chapman, Kimbrel and Pap at the back end would be awfully intimidating. I would have no issue with Brown participating in the home run derby, as my own studies have shown that there is no such thing as ‘the home run derby effect’. Though many Phillies fans will swear that the HRD messed up Bobby Abreu‘s swing, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that the derby really impacts player performance moving forward. My personal take on voting is to vote for whoever you want, with the current understanding that if the Phillies somehow made it to the World Series, the All Star Team would be better suited to provide home field advantage if other team’s players were on it.

Ian Riccaboni: There are three no-brainers and one fringe candidate right now, which is kind of strange for a team under .500 but speaks to how top-heavy the talent is. Cliff Lee is a true Cy Young candidate and should absolutely be in the All-Star game, as should closer Jonathan Papelbon. Dom Brown, the NL leader in HR, should be in the game as well. Finally, Kyle Kendrick is on the periphery but likely doesn’t get in. He’s 19th in ERA and 29th in FIP in the NL so he should be in the mix but ultimately shouldn’t get in.
Continue reading Writers Roundtable: How Many All Stars?

Philadelphia Phillies (31-31) vs Milwaukee Brewers (23-37)  

Kyle Kendrick (6-3, 3.12) vs Tom Gorzelanny (1-0, 2.01)

TIME: 7:15 CT, Miller Park

TV: FOX

Weather: 63, some clouds

Media: Twitter and Facebook

The Phillies will attempt to get back over the .500 mark this evening in the third game of their four game set with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Phillies win streak ended at five games after last night’s 5-4 loss, and they have gone 2-3 against the last place Brewers this year.

Right-hander Kyle Kendrick will get the baseball for the Phillies in tonight’s game. He is coming off his second complete game of the season, a 6-3 win over the Marlins in which he gave up just two runs on six hits.

His counterpart will be southpaw Tom Gorzelanny, who will be making his first start of the season for the Brewers, and only his second start since 2011. In 24 games out of the bullpen, he has pitched to a 1-0 record and 2.01 ERA.

The Phillies have not fared all that well against Gorzelanny through his career, but Jimmy Rollins (5-for-14, two doubles), Erik Kratz (1-for-3, home run) and Freddy Galvis (2-for-4, 2 RBI) have had a bit of success against him.

Lineup: M. Young 3B, Frandsen 1B, Rollins SS, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C, Hernandez 2B, Kendrick P

Gameday Beer: Otter Creek Copper Ale

This medium bodied beer is a very versatile and refreshing brew that goes well with all types of ballpark food, especially stuff off the grill. It’s got a sweet, toasty, crisp taste that is perfect for either a chilly night or hot summer day watching the game. It’s tough to go wrong with a good ale.

Miami Marlins (16-42) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (28-30)

Ricky Nolasco (3-6, 3.69) vs. Jonathan Pettibone (3-1, 3.64)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Weather: 72, Clear
Media: Twitter and Facebook

It’s an amazing night for a game here at Citizens Bank Park. Absolutely perfect conditions.

Onto the matchup, which is Nolasco/Pettibone. Jonathan Pettibone got knocked around a bit by the Red Sox, but if he’s learned anything from that start, he should do just fine tonight against a Marlins offense that was squeezed by Kyle Kendrick last night. Can Pettibone continue his overall success at the major league level?

Against Nolasco, Ryan Howard is 10-for-36 with four homers, and they could use some of that tonight from the Big Piece. His struggles are apparent and while all the eyes have been on Dom Brown, Howard needs to get going, too.

It’s Carlos Ruiz bobblehead night, he could start a rehab assignment soon.

Look for Domonic Brown to get plunked tonight. According to Joe Capozzi, the Marlins beat writer for the Palm Beach Post, some on the Marlins thought Brown celebrated a little too much on his HR last night. “We won’t forget,” said one. Here is the bat flip they didn’t like. Too much? Or are the Marlins being babies?

(thanks Crashburn Alley)

Lineup: Revere CF, M. Young 3B, Rollins SS, Howard 1B, Brown LF, Young RF, Galvis 2B, Quintero C, Pettibone P

GAMEDAY BEER: Sol

Sol is the lesser-known version of Corona. And, admittedly, not as good. I consider myself a Corona fan, especially in the summer time. If you’re going to a BBQ and you don’t want to waste your money being a big shot, go for this instead. I think you’ll save a few bucks. -PG

GO PHILLIES!

KK threw his second complete game this year. (PHOTO: AP)

For the first time since early April, the Phillies scored seven runs or more in back-to-back games. Last night, they jumped out to a big lead early. Tonight, they did it mostly via the long ball in somewhat of a comeback effort.

They went down 2-0 after three innings, but in the fifth, they put three runs on the board, followed by four more in the sixth. Kyle Kendrick pitched a solid game, and NL player of the week and month Domonic Brown hit yet another home run.

BROWN STAYS HOT

Domonic Brown had another nice night at the plate. He went 3-4 with another home run and 2 RBI. Over the homestand, he’s batting .545 with six home runs, and the first Phillie to hit nine home runs in ten games since Bobby Abreu. Simply outstanding.

He now has 17 home runs on the year, 42 RBI, and he’s hitting .291/.329/.592. Get this guy to the All Star Game.

FUN NIGHT FOR KENDRICK

Not only did Kyle Kendrick throw a full nine innings of two-run ball, he also tripled, and later tagged up on a fly ball to center. He slid headfirst into third on the triple, getting his uniform dirty and tearing up his elbows, and hat to pitch with that dirty uniform the next inning. It was fantastic.

His full line was 9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. His ERA is now 3.12 on the season.

SLUGGING LINEUP

The Phillies hit six extra base hits, including three home runs (from Domonic Brown, Erik Kratz, and Delmon Young). Kyle Kendrick and Freddy Galvis added triples, and Ryan Howard added a double. Ben Revere had a couple hard-hit balls, and Howard’s double was scorched. This kind of production from the offense has been a rarity, and it was great to see.

The Phillies are back at it tomorrow with Jonathan Pettibone going for the Phils and Ricky Nolasco going for the Marlins.

Miami Marlins (16-41) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (27-30)

Tom Koehler (0-3, 3.22) vs. Kyle Kendrick (5-3, 3.27)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Weather: 76, Cloudy/Showers
Media: Twitter and Facebook

News and notes: Michael Young is back after being placed on the bereavement list. He will not be in the lineup tonight, but is available to pinch hit. Young dealt with family emergency as his 9-month-old son was hospitalized due to an unspecified illness. Young did say that they have ruled out some of the more scarier, serious issues with his son.

As for tonight’s game, the Phillies ABSOLUTELY need to win. No more messing around with a Miami team they’ve only gone 6-4 against so far. A sweep is crucial. They have to beat up on the bad teams. That needs to start tonight.

Oh, and Dom Brown, NL Player of the Month. Chyeah.

Lineup: Revere CF, Hernandez 2B, Rollins SS, Howard 1B, Brown LF, Young RF, Galvis 3B, Kratz C, Kendrick P

GAMEDAY BEER: Yuengling Light Lager

If Dutch Daulton is a fan, then so are we. Light Lager is suprisingly smooth and it kicks the pants off other light beers like Miller and Bud. And it’s incredibly affordable, so you don’t have to break the bank to grab a case of it. -Pat Gallen

GO PHILLIES!

The Phillies dropped a very winnable game on Saturday against the Brewers after a late base running blunder (courtesy of a missed call by the umpire) combined with the usual lack of offense allowed Milwaukee to scrape out a 4-3 win. The loss guaranteed a series loss for the Phils, who have either lost or split each of their last four series.

The Phillies put together a rally in the ninth, but it was cut short when Kyle Kendrick was picked off second with one out in the inning. Upon replay it was evident that the second baseman did not catch the ball, less catch it and tag Kendrick out. Kendrick was pinch running for the injured Jimmy Rollins, and if he was on base he would have scored to tie the game on Cesar Hernandez‘s double, which immediately followed.

Milwaukee’s offense struck for four runs, led by catcher Jonathan Lucroy and center fielder Logan Schaeffer who combined to go 5-for-8 with two runs, a double, a homer and two RBI. It was Lucroy’s third homer through the first two games of the series.

Continue reading Blown Call, Error, Lack of Offense Result in Third Straight Loss

The Phillies (26-27) broke out the power bats on Wednesday, slugging four solo homers in their 4-3 victory over Boston (32-22) at Citizen’s Bank Park. With the win, the Phillies are guaranteed at least a split in their four-game, home-and-home series against the A.L. East leading Red Sox.

Four runs seems to be the success marker for the Phils this season. When they score four runs or more in a game, they are an incredible 18-5, as opposed to just 8-20 when scoring three runs or less.

Kyle Kendrick did not have his best stuff, but was strong throughout six innings as he earned his fifth win of the year. He allowed just two runs on four hits in his six innings of work, and was backed by a rare power display from the offense.

Brown continues surge, now among league leaders

Brown blasted his 12th and 13th homers of the year on Wednesday against Boston. (Photo: AP)

Left fielder Domonic Brown took home his first ever National League Player of the Week award last week, so what does he do to start this week? How about four home runs in three games, including two solo bombs to right field today. His first home run gave the Phillies the 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, and his second, which came in the eighth, proved to be a crucial bit of insurance for the team come the ninth.

Continue reading Four blasts lead Phils to second straight win over Sox