After the searing start the Phillies’ offense got off to in their first 10 games, it was bound to get shut down eventually. Saturday, that day finally arrived. Ricky Nolasco pitched a five-hitter, allowing only a late home run to Jayson Werth in a 5-1 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The real troubling thing about the game was that Jamie Moyer allowed his second five-run inning of the season – in the first inning, no less – putting the Phillies in an immediate hole. After back-to-back, carbon-copy RBI singles by Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla, Ronny Paulino lofted a three-run homer just over the wall in left-center.
(Don’t forget – Paulino is the guy the Phils traded to the Giants for Jack Taschner a couple of months after the 2008 World Series. And is it me, or do former Phillies catchers always come back to hurt the Phils? I’m thinking of Rod Barajas here.)
Moyer righted himself to go six innings without allowing any further damage. And you could argue that the five-run first was irrelevant because one run won’t win many games, even with Roy Halladay on the mound. Speaking of struggling starters, Cole Hamels will take the mound Sunday for the series victory. You can say it’s only April, but beating division opponents is vital no matter the month.
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