The Philadelphia Phillies won their fifth straight game on Thursday night, taking down the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1. Their record improves to 31-30.
- Tyler Cloyd did his job well on the mound, tossing 6.2 scoreless innings. Cloyd gave up four hits and five walks, and lowered his ERA to 3.68. I admire Cloyd for the success he’s been able to achieve, but it’s scary watching him pitch. I’m just waiting for the kid to get lit up every time he goes out there.
- Cloyd also drew a walk and came around to score a run in the second inning.
- Charlie Manuel shook up the lineup a bit tonight. Michael Young batted out of the lead off spot for the first time all season, and John Mayberry got the start in centerfield and hit second.
- Young responded by going 3-5 with three singles.
- The Phillies got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ryan Howard drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and John Mayberry scored on a wild pitch.
- Mayberry got hits in his first two at-bats, including an RBI double in the second inning.
- Domonic Brown singled with one out in the third inning. Brown then stole second and third base to put himself in position to score on an RBI groundout by Erik Kratz. He finished the game 2-3 with a walk.
- It’s now 11 RBIs in the last 12 games for Kratz.
- Delmon Young hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. It’s Young’s sixth of the year, and his third in the last seven games.
- Justin De Fratus got the final out of the seventh inning.
- Mike Adams pitched the eighth inning, and allowed a run to score on an RBI groundout after giving up a walk to Ryan Braun.
- Antonio Bastardo got the call in the ninth inning. Bastardo gave up a lead-off single to Juan Francisco, but then retired the next three batters he faced.
Final Thoughts
I actually like Charlie’s idea to bat Michael Young first. Young hasn’t been anything more than a singles hitter all season, and he’s been killing the team with double-play balls. He’s still a smart enough hitter to work a count and take a walk, and that may make him the best fit for the lead-off spot on the team at the moment.
You can tell that Manuel really wants no part of Ben Revere in his lineup, especially with John Mayberry playing well. Although Mayberry is far from an ideal everyday outfielder, Manuel would rather have Mayberry’s power in the lineup instead of Revere’s complete and utter lack of it.
The new lineup worked well for Charlie tonight. Young and Mayberry were both productive at the top of the order, and the offense put up a solid five runs.
The Phillies are on a roll right now. They’ve ripped off five in a row, and they’ve got their record above .500 for the first time all year. They’re becoming fun to watch again, and they’ve got a good chance to keep the winning streak tomorrow with Cliff Lee on the mound.
Another good Team Win with contributions for most of the Players..
Right mixing and matching the line-up is really working well for it’s getting more players involve and utilizing the Players strengths as the energy level, the hustle plays and contributions up and down the line-up gas been fun to watch..
The Bulloend has settled in with Adans back and Stutes and De Fratus getting to Pitch in late Inning situations with along with Badtardo & Papelbon will really be a key as the summer faces heat up. Right now Brown, Mayberry & Jratz are getting key hits and driving in Runs.. Rollins is hitting better at #3 Hole and Howard’s average is ok, but needs to regain his Power #’s
I would like to see M Young stay lead off for the reasons listed by Denny,
He will see a lot of Pitches, get his walks and stay out of rally killing Double-Plays batting lead-off..
Going with a line-up as follows may be the way to go for now
1) M Young
2) D Brown
3) J Rollins
4) R Howard
5) J Mayberry
6) D Young
7) E Kratz
8) F Galvis or Hernandez
9) Pitcher
Paulman you are a schitzo , do you like the Phillies or not , don’t give me this feint praise every time they win, when they lose you go off like that pussy Dcar, what is it paulman
pussy who’ll beat the snot, out your pansy, internet tough guy @$$! Better take that $#!t with 1 of your family members, jake! You ain’t $#!t & never will be $#!t!
mayberry and d. young hitting a little has been key. i’m a fan of mayberry because i met his dad and he was a good dude– but jr. really frustrates me, to have his tools and struggle ugh! hopefully they can put it together, howard gets hot in july, aug, sept the way he typically does
I put Brown at #2 for more Plate Appearances and the Right-Handed Bat of Mayberry Jr behind Howard..
Danny Basens: “I admire Cloyd for the success he’s been able to achieve, but it’s scary watching him pitch. I’m just waiting for the kid to get lit up every time he goes out there.”
I feel your pain, but as Charlie might say: “…At the same time, there ain’t no Randy Johnsons out there, starters throwing in the mid 90s consistently, so as long as he throws strikes, that’s what baseball’s all about’.
hahaha, baseball’s a funny game, right?
Cloyd is a great story, I root like hell for him, but mid 80s from tbe right side is not good enough, he will eventually struggle
Yeah I really want to see him do well do, and when you see him get through 6.2 innings with no runs allowed, you feel good for the guy but at the same time you look at his stuff and you’re just shocked.
His next start against Minnesota will be a good test for him, the Twins aren’t a great team, but he will have to contend with an American League lineup which is considerably tougher just because of the DH alone.
And Charlie is wrong, the landscape has changed, there are many now who.can throw mid 90s