• March 29, 2024

Notes From The Phillies’ 7-2 Win Over Chicago

chaseThe Philadelphia Phillies snapped their two-game losing streak on Friday afternoon, taking down the Cubs 6-2. Their record improves to 2-2.

  • Roberto Hernandez started his first game of the season, and allowed two runs over 5.1 innings. The veteran gave up three hits and a walk, and also struck out five. 
  • Hernandez allowed a solo home run to Wellington Castillo in the second inning. His only other blemish came in the third, when he allowed an RBI-single to Starlin Castro. Hernandez struck out the only batter he faced in the sixth inning, before being lifted from the game.
  • The Phillies scored their first run with some help from a Chicago error. Marlon Byrd reached on a fielding mistake by third baseman Luis Valbuena. After a Ryan Howard single, Domonic Brown drove in Byrd with a base hit, his first RBI of the season. Brown drove in another run in the ninth with an RBI-double.
  • The Phillies struck again in the fifth inning, with Chase Utley hitting his first homer of the year. It was a two-run shot off of Travis Wood.
  • Utley drove in another run in the seventh inning with a single.
  • John Mayberry helped tack on two valuable insurance runs in the eighth inning with a pinch-hit, two-run homer.
  • After going hitless in the last two games, Ben Revere broke out for three-hit game today, and also stole a base.
  • Carlos Ruiz had another solid game out of the two-hole. Ruiz went 1-2 with a single, and drew two walks. Ruiz already has five walks in just four games.
  • Jayson Nix got another start at shortstop, and went 0-4.
  • Cody Asche started again at third, but went 0-4.
  • Jake Diekman took over for Roberto Hernandez in the sixth, and recorded the final two outs of the inning without issue.
  • Justin De Fratus made his first appearance of the season, and worked a scoreless seventh.
  • Antonio Bastardo walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. He also walked another man in the inning, but was able to get a double-play to escape trouble.
  • Mario Hollands recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning. Jeff Manship recorded the final out.

Final Thoughts

So far, so good for the Phillies.

While the Texas series ended with two sour losses, you have to like the fact that the team has been in every game that they’ve played so far.

The difference between today’s win and their two losses earlier in the week was the offense’s ability to tack on runs late in the game. In the two losses to the Rangers, the offense was unable to generate any additional runs after their initial outbursts.

Today, after taking a 3-2 lead, they were able to to double that lead with a run in the seventh, two more in the eighth, and one more in the ninth. Tacking on runs makes life much easier on a bullpen filled with young arms trying to establish themselves, and an overpaid potentially washed up closer.

Jonathan Papelbon isn’t the only veteran in the bullpen who is a problem though. Antonio Bastardo reminds me more and more of J.C. Romero every time I see him pitch. He walked two more batters today, and he’s got to find the strikezone soon, or he’s going to cost this team some games.

Denny Basens

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haveacigar
haveacigar
April 5, 2014 4:28 pm

Been watching mike Olt play a bit this weekend. For those of you that don’t remember he was the can’t miss prospect the GCOBB GM’s all said we had to have. Too funny

mhenski
mhenski
April 5, 2014 5:39 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

I always find humor when people say we blew up our farm system over the years but the fact remains nobody turned out to be squat. Cosart could be on his way but everyone else is a nobody

haveacigar
haveacigar
April 5, 2014 5:45 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Meanwhile our 3b is 23, Hernandez 22 and Franco 21. I think those ages are correct. Brown is 26 as is revere… Galvis and ruff are in their 20’s

mhenski
mhenski
April 5, 2014 7:46 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

i hate galvis. he can follow wilson valdez …not sure on ceasar either but hopeful. hoping franco keeps getting better.

like asche in the field at 23, he is fucking great. it will hopefully be fun seeing asche and franco grow here.

brown is average at best and thats ok for now…

haveacigar
haveacigar
April 5, 2014 8:39 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Not a galvis fan either although the ‘don’t sign jimmy club’ thinks he should be our starting SS..ridiculous. I think Hernandez has a shot

paulman
paulman
April 5, 2014 8:16 pm

Another good Win..
I like how Sandberg is handling the Team and managing the games
This far, to be honest, they could easily be 5-0
And even though I do not like Papelbon, but it was good for Sandberg to give him the ball to close out today’s game.. for if Phils are going hang around and have any chance, they will need Papelbon to pitch well and and with confidence

haveacigar
haveacigar
April 5, 2014 8:40 pm
Reply to  paulman

Fraudman you were a mike Olt fan…remember?

paulman
paulman
April 5, 2014 9:24 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Yes I still like 3B Olt, let’s give him a full Season in the Big Leagues
before writing him off

haveacigar
haveacigar
April 6, 2014 8:26 am
Reply to  paulman

Point is all you arm chair critics have no idea what you are talking about. The Phil’s have two third basemen that are as good or better, they are younger and more major league ready.

paulman
paulman
April 6, 2014 8:33 am
Reply to  haveacigar

I like Ashe, and Franco wasn’t even on the radar yet some
2 years ago when were talking about 3B Olt
C’mon man..

haveacigar
haveacigar
April 6, 2014 8:40 am
Reply to  paulman

he was on the people who matters radar!!!!

paulman
paulman
April 6, 2014 9:22 am
Reply to  haveacigar

Yes,there League wide interest in Mike Olt for a couple of years

haveacigar
haveacigar
April 6, 2014 9:25 am

i’m talking about franco… you whined that they didn’t go after olt.