"That's why (Phillies Manager Charles Fuqua) Manuel brought him (reliever Antonio Alfonseca) in. To get the big strikeouts." It was yet another clueless comment from ESPN "analyst" Joe Morgan during Sunday night's game against Atlanta. Charlie Manuel hadn't brought Alfonseca into the game expecting any strikeouts, as Alfonseca has the lowest K/nine-inning ratio of any Phillies reliever. He was just hoping Alfonseca could get out of the inning without too much damage. Alfonseca rose to the occasion, whiffing both batters he faced, and securing the lead. The Phillies went on to win that game, 5-3, moving ahead of the Braves into second place in the NL East.When the Phillies lost 2B Chase Utley, RP Ryan Madson, RF Shane Victorino, and OF Michael Bourn to injuries in a five day span, it was apparent that the Phillies would need some of their few healthy players play a more significant role. They'd need to make the most of their runs, battle to stay in games, and actually get some decent pitching once in awhile. In taking four of six games from the Braves and the Nationals, the Phillies did just that. They go into tonight's game against the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates only a game out of the Wild Card lead. They wouldn't be there without receiving major contributions from their remaining big guns (Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins), some late season acquisitions (Tadahito Iguchi, Kyle Lohse, Russell Branyan), and exiling some of their ill-fated offseason acquistions (Rod Barajas, Adam Eaton) to the (quite possibly somewhat fake) disabled list.
In the first game of the Braves series, ace Cole Hamels allowed four runs in the top of the 1st inning. But the Phillies came right back with four in the bottom of the frame. Hamels followed his poor first inning with six no-hit frames. The Phils scratched out an unearned run in the 7th inning, and relievers J. C Romero, Alfonseca, and Tom Gordon (sixth save) held Atlanta scoreless, securing Hamels' 13th win. The middle game featured Phillies "pitcher" Adam Eaton staking the Braves to a 6-1 lead, after his three innings of work. The Phillies fought back, but fell, 7-5. That should be Eaton's (6.36 ERA) last start for awhile. (Eaton's ERA has been over 10.50 since his life-saving actions with the tarp in Colorado, which possibly resulted in personal injury. If the Rockies send Troy Trevor Tulowitzki to the Phillies, in exchange for Abraham O. Nunez, I think we can call it even.) In the Sunday night win, in which ESPN expert Joe Morgan praised gimpy LF Pat Burrell for his "speed", and failed to recognize that 1B Ryan Howard plays the infield, infielder Howard had the big hit. Howard's three-run homer, SP Jamie Moyer's 11th win, and a scoreless 9th by Brett Myers (ninth save) showed the Braves (and gajillions of ESPN viewers) that the Phillies are planning to stick around in the playoff race. Even with their MVP (Utley) on the DL.
The series in Washington started with more of the same Philly heroics. Phillies SP Kyle Lohse and Nats SP Shawn Hill matched zeros, until the Nationals broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the 7th. But the Nats' 2-0 lead immediately disappeared in the top of the 8th, when the Phils responded with three runs. The big hit was a two-run pinch homer by Russell Branyan, in his first plate appearance in a Phillies uniform. Gordon and Myers (10th save) completed the come-from-behind 3-2 victory. The Phillies lost the middle game, 4-2, as their offense was held to only five hits. The Phillies had the bases loaded, with no outs in the seventh, but were unable to score. The Phils did win the rubber game, however, as Cole Hamels (6.2 scoreless innings, 14th win) and Brett Myers (11th save) led the win in Thursday's 4-2 win. Taking two of three from Washington, combined with Pittsburgh's 10-7 Thursday night win over the 1st place Mets, brought the Phillies to within three games of the top spot. The Phillies' first playoff appearance since 1993 is within reach.
The Phillies have a three-game series in Pittsburgh against the lowly Pirates (.420 winning pct., last in NL) this weekend. They face Pirates ace Tom Gorzelanny (11-6, 3.29 ERA) tonight, but he has accumulated those stats without having to face the Phillies and their potent bats. Besides, the Phils have J.D. (The Real Deal) Durbin on the mound tonight, so you have to like their chances. Additionally, the Phillies are playing .667 ball, since I acquired a "Cole in Your Stocking, Christmas in July" Cole Hamels bobblehead. I'm not necessarily advocating that you go out and get a Hamels bobble, but it couldn't hurt. (If I WAS suggesting good options for your discretionary funds, I'd direct you here.) I'm just saying that the Phillies should certainly win at least two games this weekend. Beware The Power of the Cole Bobble, Buccos!
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