Moyer Gives Bullpen a Rest

The Phillies eeked out their fourth win yesterday afternoon thanks to a brilliant pitching performance by Jamie Moyer. The bullpen which was so heavily taxed in Wednesday’s 13 inning affair (and generally unreliable on the season) got the day off.  That is, except for Tom Gordon who nearly blew the save by allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth.  For a slideshow of game photos, click here or on the picture to the right.

So could yesterday’s win in rainy Washington, DC catapult the Phillies to a hot streak to end the first month of the season?  Well, the club has 11 games left in April, there is a chance they can go 8-3 over those 11 games.  Here is how it would work:     

1. Win 2 of 3 in Cincinnati this weekend
2. Win the make-up game on Monday vs. the Astros
3. Sweep the Nats at home
4. Win 2 of 3 from the Marlins at home
5. Lose the last game of the month in Atlanta.

Of course, Ryan Howard is now listed as day-to-day with a strained leg ligament, the bullpen is in shambles and runners on base, stay on base; but the Phillies are not a bad team.  They can turn it around, and they will.  The question now though is: is it already too late?