The Philadelphia Phillies won their second straight game on Friday night, taking down the Braves 5-4. Their record improves to 42-45.
- Cliff Lee turned in a decent outing, allowing four runs over 6.1 innings. Lee tossed six scoreless frames before allowing a three-run homer to Dan Uggla in the seventh. The lefty allowed two more baserunners before being lifted in favor of J.C. Ramirez.
- Chase Utley doubled with one out in the first inning, and came around to score the team’s first run after Ryan Howard was safe on an error two batters later.
- In the second inning, the Phillies increased their lead to 3-0 after Humberto Quintero launched his second homer of the year. Quintero drove in another run in the sixth inning with a two-out double.
- Howard would follow Quintero in the third inning with a bomb of his own, a solo shot to make it 4-0. It was Howard’s 11th homer of the year, and it came off of a pretty decent lefty in Paul Maholm.
- Ramirez, who took over for Lee in the seventh, began his outing by allowing a run to score on a sacrifice fly. After walking Jason Heyward, the rookie struck out Justin Upton to end the inning.
- Antonio Bastardo pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
- Jonathan Papelbon picked up his 18th save of the season.
Final Thoughts
When J.C. Ramirez was called up several weeks ago, many people shook their heads, and rightfully so.
Ramirez was the owner of a 6.53 ERA at Triple-A, and seemingly had done very little to warrant a major-league roster spot.
However, since being brought up, the rookie has pitched pretty well. Ramirez hasn’t allowed a run in his five appearances, and got the team out of a bad situation in the seventh inning tonight. He’s done a good job with his opportunity so far, and he’s going to have a chance to work his way into a larger role on this weak bullpen. The Phillies are desperate for anyone to step up right now.
These are the games that are going to shape the direction of the rest of the season, and the Phils managed to hold on to an important first win. The best thing that this team can do right now is take things one game at a time, and not look too far ahead. They got a game from Atlanta tonight, and they’ll need Kyle Kendrick to bounce back and give them a good outing tomorrow night.
A Great Win to Start a Pivotal 10 Game Stretch of NL East Opponents
A nice stretch of Baseball & Team Ball where if the Phils can win
7 of 10 puts them right in the tick of the NL East Race as the Braves, after a hit Start have not played well in 6 weeks and the Nats have been up & down like the Phils, but are getting healthy too.. Even the Marlins have played good ball sine June and are playing with confidence..
Kendrick & Pettibone need solid performances while the Braves gave their 2 Best Apitchers going Sat/Sun with Hudson & Medlin.. Phiks need to get out fast and get into that Braves Bullpen which has not been as dominant as years past..a big Series for Phils to win 2 of 3 or possibly even sweep which will be huge and get them within 5 games.. The Phiks need solid Starts
By their Srarters and Bullpen has to hold it together and then things will get interesting this 2nd half..bats are coming alive where Revere, Delmon Young,
Michael Young have been hitting well the last couple of weeks, if Utley & Howarx and D Brown cane come thru with some power production, the Phils will be in this Race..
love the optimism paul but get real. this bp… lannan is a gas can waiting to happen and pettibone is trending towards a gas can too. but at least its hitting weather and the are hitting better, at least some entertainment.
To be honest, the way the Braves/Nats have played has kept the Phils in it
Which I was not really expecting.. Braves Strike out a lot, Nats Bullpen has been a sore spot for them also but they are getting some kyp Players back in Harper, Werth & Catcher Ramos..
It will be interesting to see what happens at deadline but obviously the Phills probably cannot seriously contend with it’s present Bullpen
If Adams/Stutes were healthy, they would have a chance to go along with Vastardo & Oaoelbon to give them a chance..
Many of the Games will come down to the 7th/8th/9th Innings which will be a whirlwind to say the least..
Funny everyone wanted an upton and they blow
not me. but i know dcar is a big fan of the braves outfield and doesnt care about all their k’s. id take phillies outfield over the wayyyyyyy overrated braves outfield and have said so since day 1
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Thanks for the laugh! You got Brown, with his 1/2 of a good season in his career thus far. Young, Mayberry & Nix are irrelevant. Revere, although has hit better since June, is a bad OF, a punching Judy hitter, with no discipline. Give me a break. I’d take their OF, any day. I don’t care how many K’s! Weren’t we a top 5 strikeout team, when we won the 2008 WS? OHHH OK!
mhenski agree, Both Upton’s are both malcontents with big time potential, that never live up to the hype. Im glad the Phils stayed away this off-season. That being said, regardless of the next 8-10 games, the Phillies still need to be sellers at the deadline and get major league ready prospects going forward at RF, INF and P. That way they can build a team around Brown, Hamels, Biddle Franco etc. Ironically, while still a work in progress, 24 yr old B. Revere is going to end the year as a .300 hitter with 30-40 sb. Looks like a nice pick-up for a AAAA pitcher in Worley and May whose still in AA at 23 and has trouble throwing strikes.
Bj upton is a career 245 hitter that averages 18 HR and 70 RBI per year. At the nitwits were critical we didn’t sign him for 75 million. Hilarious
I’m 53 and think I could hit a hard line drive off of Kendrick tonight
Why do he Phils continue to Pitch to Dan Uggla
The guy Bats like .200 every year, but just kills the Phils..
I bet he hits 8 HR’s and Bats .400 versus the Phils every Season
And especially at Citizens Bank Park..