The Philadelphia Phillies won their second straight game on Monday night, taking down the Dodgers 7-0. Their record improves to 9-10.
- Cliff Lee was in top form on Monday, tossing eight scoreless innings. Lee allowed just four hits, struck out 10, and didn’t allow a walk.
- Ryne Sandberg made a surprising decision before the game, inserting Carlos Ruiz into the cleanup spot. Ruiz was batting just .204, and didn’t have a home run entering the game. However, Ruiz responded with his strongest performance of the season, going 3-4 with a walk and four RBI’s.
- Ruiz began the game with a two-run double in the first inning, and finished it with a two-run bomb in the ninth, his first of the year.
- Ryan Howard homered for the second straight game, hitting a two-run shot off of Paul Maholm in the fifth inning.
- Chase Utley went 1-5, and hit his ninth double of the year.
- John Mayberry got a start in right for Marlon Byrd, and went 1-4.
- Freddy Galvis played third, and went 0-4.
- Tony Gwynn started for Ben Revere in center, and went 0-4.
- Jeff Manship pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Final Thoughts
After a bit of a shaky start to the season, Cliff Lee is showing us that he is still very much an elite pitcher.
Lee has gone eight and nine innings respectively in his last two starts, and has allowed just one run. In that same stretch, he’s struck out 23 batters while walking just one.
These are the level of performances the Phils need from Lee. He gave an overused bullpen a valuable day off, and anchored the team to another win.
The other guy who has shown some encouraging signs over the last few days is Ryan Howard. Howard has two homers and five RBI’s in the last two games, and you can see the impact that he can have on the rest of the lineup when he’s productive. Howard’s been a streaky hitter throughout his career, so hopefully he can keep up the high level of play for another game or two at least.
please send galvis far away asap
You mean, you don’t like a sure out in the lineup?
You mean our everyday SS? He was the guy the geniuses on here wanted to replace Rollins a couple years ago. Also to the Howard bashers… 5 HR and April isn’t over….
That HR last night was reminiscent of the old Big Piece. Hopefully, he can stay on his feet.
2 wins in a row, one game out of .500.
Cliff Lee is pitching real well since the debut game. Ryan Howard’s bat is alive again.
Yasiel Puig is the worst base runner I have ever seen.
Puig is all talent, no brain. So many mental errors all of the time.
C’mon Cole Hamels!
excited tonight too, DMAN. Cole Hamels debut, alright. He is pitching against Greinke tonight who is 3-0. Phils won last night reaching .500 for 3 straight wins. I feel asleep after AJ Burnett gave up the game tying run so I miss the conclusion.( 3-2, 10 inning win) I literally feel asleep during the commercials when they removed Burnett in the 7th for Diekman.
You figure Cole Hamles will need a couple of Starts here to get his strength and endurance so lets be a little cautious about his first few starts and see if he can give a good 5 Innings coming out of the gate.. Bullpen will be huge tonight.. as usual..
I give everyone of these World Series players a free pass. I suffered through 1983-2008 4 sports seasons (100-ish seasons) without a championship.
2nd that
I give no Player a Pass… It’s a Prviledge & Honor to Play Sports and especially in a Passionate City such as Philadelphia and though I do realize that every Player will lose some skils over time, there is no esxuses for pissy attitudes or half-assed efforts.. These Guys are supposed to be Professionals and the best of the Very Best and should conduct themselves as such when Playing and rPpresenting the City of Philadelphia
paul you being a person outside of the city and not really here day to day, not able to listen to 94.1 and 97.5 in your car driving to work, not having philly comcast on your tv, not having tcn on your local tv, not being present for the parade, the celebration on broad right after, not regularly attending games gives you a different perspective.
regardless the guys in question arent easily replaceable even in their decline years …
I hear what you say Mhenski and definitely find merit in your response.. I moved in 1988 and was able to attend the Flyers (’75)
76ers 1980 and Phillies 1980 Parade Celebrations and understand fully what a great Playoff Run and Winning a Championship means to the Fans and to the entire Delaware Valley, where people are more upbeat, more positive and in a overall better spirit…
But hanging onto the Past, not being realistic and clinging to the old days & players just doesn’t do anything for me… I rather be always moving ,looking forward and improving , it’s the challenge,the struggle and climb that keeps me more interested
than simply remembering the good old days.. but that’s just me..
And they do dimwit!
Paul they are trying to win and have been that’s what you are supposed to do