Things looked bleak for the Phillies of Philadelphia. Consecutive losses to the Padres had brought them to the brink of oblivion. The Philly faithful seemed resigned to counting the days until Eagles football returned. (14 days!)It was the usual suspects who had delivered the embattled ballclub to the edge of the chasm. Friday night's 14-3 loss featured twelve unanswered runs by the Padres, courtesy of Philly "pitchers" Jamie Moyer (4.2 IP, 6 ER, 5.16 ERA) and Jose Mesa (1 IP, 6 H (!), 4 ER, 7.59 ERA). Saturday night's 4-3 nailbiter included a blown save by Tom Gordon, and a loss by opening day starter-turned-closer Brett Myers. (Perhaps this P.O.D. tune would be a more appropriate entrance song, given Myers' difficulties with keeping the ball in the park. 5.10 ERA? Check the stats, indeed.) A Padres victory would have dropped Philadelphia to four games back in the Wild Card chase.
But the Phillies did have one thing going for them on Sunday. Their stopper. (No, not Cole Hamels. Still hurt.) Kyle Rodney Kendrick. All 6' 3" and 190 lbs. of splendid pitching excellence. The wiry Phillies ace (ACE!) celebrated his 23rd birthday with a stunning performance (6 IP, 1 ER), halting the Phillies' losing streak, and giving Phillies fans a reason to keep their David Akers jerseys in the closet. Kendrick improved to 7-3, with a 3.89 ERA. (His 23 Ks in 63 IP is a bit of a concern, but we are focusing on his ace-osity at the present time.) A few months ago, Kyle Rodney was in AA, and may not have had enough trade value to get the Phillies a Jose Mesa. Now, he is the top (healthy) starting pitcher on a WILD CARD CONTENDER!
Kyle didn't win this one on his own, however. Jayson Werth, playing in right for the restful Shane Victorino, went 5 for 5 (!) with 4 RBI, raising his batting average to a quite satisfactory .294. Ryan Howard broke out of his slump with a 3 for 4 day, including his 34th homer. Pat Burrell went 1 for 3, with a pair of walks, and three runs scored. When the Phillies were done for the day, they had a 14-2 victory, and a mere three game deficit in the Wild Card race. Plus, thanks to newly-promoted reliever John Ennis (last seen in MLB in 2004, with an 8.44 ERA for Detroit), who pitched the final three innings (1 ER allowed and a "save" for protecting a 14-2 lead), the rest of the Phillies bullpen was able to take the day off. (Well, they pretty much took the last two days off also, but this was a welcome breather for the fans.) Special honorary mention goes to Padres starting pitcher Tim Stauffer, who allowed eleven (ELEVEN!) runs on eleven hits (!) in four innings. Stauffer managed to raise his ERA from 17.18 to 21.13.
The Phillies begin a four game series at home against the first place (NL East) New York Mets Monday night, while the Padres start a series against the first place (NL West) Arizona Diamondbacks. Crucial games for all those involved. Hopefully, the Phillies can make up some ground in both races. Kendrick and Hamels won't be available to face the Mets, but MVP candidate Chase Utley will be back in the lineup. Though it would help to have one of their two ace starters in the series, the Phils do have Brett Myers, their calm, cool, and collected closer, ready for action. (Kendrick may be seen as a pinch-hitter, when Phillies MGR Charles Fuqua Manuel depletes his bench in the 4th inning, trying to protect a one-run lead. Hamels will only be involved in the event of a bench clearing brawl. Or brawlS.) It's always fun times when the Phillies host the Mets.
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