June 2008
The Phils waste a good effort by Eaton as they fall to the Cardinals, 3-2.
Adam Eaton pitches a good game in a losing cause as ex-Phillie Kyle Lohse four hit the Phillies offense as the Phillies lose to the Cardinals, 3-2. The Cardinals took a quick 2-0 lead as Adam Kennedy would hit a two-run home run off of Eaton, for his first home run of the year, knocking in Skip Schumaker, who has earlier singled. The Cardinals would make it 3-0 in the third when Ryan Ludwick singles in Schumaker, who has earlier reached base on a force out. The Phillies would cut the lead in the fourth when Pat Burrell would hit a two-run homer off of Lohse, his eighteenth home run of the season, knocking in Ryan Howard, who has earlier singled. That would be it for the ballgame, as first Eaton and then J.C. Romero and Lohse would be involved in a major pitchers’ duel that would end up as a Cardinals’ win as Ryan Franklin would pitch a 1-2-3 ninth to record his ninth save of the year.
>Adam Eaton would pitch well in a losing cause as he goes six and two-thirds innings, giving up three earned runs on nine hits. His record is now 2-4 with a 4.57 ERA. J.C. Romero would pitch an inning and a third in relief, giving up no runs on no hits. Ex-Phil Kyle Lohse would get the victory, going eight strong innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits, two of which went to opposing pitcher Eaton. His record is now 8-2 with a 3.77 ERA. Ryan Franklin would pitch a scoreless ninth as he gives up no hit, as he records his ninth save of the year.
The Phillies’ offense, after their twenty runs outburst, was shut down by the efforts of ex-Phillie Kyle Lohse, who was able to pitch better than his opponent Adam Eaton. The Phils’ offense will be regrouping tomorrow afternoon to try and see if they can score as many runs as they did Friday night.
The Phillies (41-29) will end their three games series with the Cardinals (41-29, 2nd National League Central) with an afternoon game at the new Busch Stadium. The game will begin at 2:15 pm Eastern (1:15 pm Central). The Phillies’ starter will be Brett Myers (3-8, 5.34), who is coming off of a lost to the Marlins on June 10, where he would pitch only five and one third innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, in the Phillies’ 5-4 lost. He will be trying to improve his record and end a personal two game losing streak, while trying to help the Phils win the series and end the road trip with a 6-3 record. His opponent will be Mitchell Boggs (1-0, 3.86), who is just coming off his first major league victory against the Reds on June 10, where he would pitch five innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits, in the Cardinals’ 7-2 victory. He will be trying to get a victory so that the Cardinals will win the series with the Phils while hoping that he can outpitch the Phils’ offense since this will be the first time that they will have faced him.
The first place Phillies are still leading the Marlins by four games as the Marlins have lost their game with the Rays. The Braves are now six and a half games behind the Phillies as they defeated the Angels. The Mets are now seven games behind as their game with the Rangers was called because of rain. The Phillies will be trying to add a little more distance between them and the rest of the division before they head back to Philadelphia to host the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Thw Phillies’ bats reawaken as the offense scores 20 runs for the second time this season as the Phillies rout the Cardinals, 20-2.
For the second time this season the Phillies’ offense would knock in twenty runs as they routed the Cardinals, 20-2. The Phillies would start their scoring in the first inning, when, with two outs, Chase Utley would hit a solo shot off of Cardinals’ starter Todd Wellemeyer, his twenty-second home run of the year, to give the Phils a quick 1-0 lead. Ryan Howard would follow with a solo shot of his own for his sixteenth home run of the season to make it 2-0 Phillies. Pat Burrell would then follow with his seventeenth home run of the year, another solo shot, to give the Phils a 3-0 lead, as the middle of the lineup hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. The Phils would then add to their lead in the second as Carlos Ruiz would hit a RBI double, scoring Pedro Feliz who has singled earlier, making it 4-0 Phils. The Cardinals would get a run back in the third as Skip Schumaker hit his third home run of the year, a solo shot, to make it 4-1 Phillies. The Phils would then bust the game wide open as they send fifteen men to the plate to score nine runs while sending Wellemeyer to the showers. After Ruiz starts the inning off by grounding out, Kyle Kendrick would get on base with a ground-rule double. Jimmy Rollins would then walk. Shane Victorino would then follow with a single, loading the bases. Utley would then follow him with a RBI single, scoring both Kendrick and Rollins and sending Victorino to second, as the Phillies now lead 6-1. That would be it for Wellemeyer as he would be replaced by Ron Villone. Howard would welcome Villone with a RBI single, scoring Victornio, to give the Phillies a 7-1 lead, while sending Utley over to second. Burrell would then walk, reloading the bases. Geoff Jenkins would then hit a sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning, scoring Utley, to make it 8-1 Phils, with Utley becoming the last run to be charged to Wellemeyer. Feliz would then walk to reload the bases. Ruiz, who has started the inning, would continue it by hitting a double, scoring both Howard and Burrell while sending Feliz to third, giving the Phils a 10-1 lead. Kendrick would come up and get his second hit of the inning, a RBI single, scoring both Feliz and Ruiz to make the score 12-1 Phillies. Kendrick would meanwhile go to second on Rick Ankiel’s throwing error to cut down Ruiz. Rollins would then follow with his second walk of the inning. Victorino would follow him with his second hit of the inning, a double, which would score Kendrick, to make it a 13-1 Phillies lead, and move Rollins to third. After giving up a walk to Utley to yet again reload the bases, Villone would finally stop the slaughter by striking out Howard. The Phillies would score another run in the fifth on a RBI double by Feliz, scoring Burrell, who has earlier walked to make it 14-1 Phils. Three more Phillies’ runs would score in the sixth on Howard’s three-run home run, his seventeenth home run of the year, scoring Victorino and pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett, who has both singled, to give the Phils a 17-1 lead. The Cardinals would score their second and last run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, as Troy Glaus singles in Ryan Ludwick, who has earlier reached base on a fielding error by Feliz, making it 17-2 Phillies. The Phillies would then score the game’s final runs in the eighth, as, with two outs, Ryan Howard is hit by the pitch, going to first. After Cardinals’ pitcher Russ Springer and Cardinals’ manager Tony LaRussa are both ejected by the home plate umpire for intentionally hitting Howard and for arguing about the ejection respectively, So Taguchi would single, moving Howard to second. Jenkins would follow with a double, scoring both Howard and Taguchi, making it 19-2 Phils. After a Feliz’s single moves Jenkins to third, he would score on a single by Ruiz, making it 20-2 Phillies. That would be how the game would end as first Rudy Seanez and then Clay Condrey would pitch the final two innings, keeping the Cardinals off of the scoreboard.
Kyle Kendrick would get the win, as he goes seven strong innings, giving up only two runs, one of which was earned, on eight hits. His record is now 6-2 with a 4.54 ERA. Rudy Seanez and Clay Condrey would both pitch an inning, each giving up no runs on one hits. Todd Wellemeyer would get the lost, as he would get rock for eight earned runs on eight hits while going only three and one third innings. Ron Villone would pitch an inning and a third, getting crush for six earned runs on five hits and five walks. Mark Worrell would pitch two innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits. Russ Springer would pitch only a third of an inning, as he would be thrown out of the game for intentionally hitting Ryan Howard, giving up an earned run on no hits. Ryan Franklin would pitch two-thirds of an inning, giving up two earned runs on four hits. Aaron Miles, normally a second baseman, was the only Cardinal not to give up a run to the Phils, as he goes an inning, giving up no run on no hits.
For the second time this season, the Phillies’ offense would score twenty runs, while also getting twenty-one hits. Every Phillies’ starter, except for Jimmy Rollins, would get at least one hit, with Carlos Ruiz leading the way as he would go four for six. Next would be Shane Victorino who would hit three for seven, followed by Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz, who both went three for five. Even Kyle Kendrick would get into the act as he would go two for five. Of their twenty-one hits, ten would be for extra-base hits (6 (2B), 4 (HR)). The win gives the Phillies a winning road trip. The back-to-back-to-back home runs hit in the first inning was the seventh time that it has occurred in Phillies’ history.
The Philles (41-28) will continue their series against the Cardinals (40-29 2nd National League Central) tomorrow afternoon at the new Busch Stadium, as one of the games to be shown on Fox Saturday Baseball Game of the Week. The game will start at 3:55 pm Eastern (2:55 pm Central). The Phillies’ starter will be Adam Eaton (2-3, 4.62), who is coming off a no-decision against the Braves on June 8, where he would go six innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits, in the Phillies’ 6-3 win. His career record against the Cardinals isn’t very good, as he is 1-4 with a 6.82 ERA. Eaton plans to improve his record while helping to improve the team’s record on the road. Kyle Lohse (7-2, 3.92), will be send to the mound by the Cardinals. He is coming off a win against the Astros on June 8, where he pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits, in the Cardinals’ 5-4 win. He has won his last four starts, going a combined twenty-three innings, giving up five earned runs on twenty hits. He will be trying to improve on his record while trying to stop the explosive Phillies’ offense.
The first place Phillies lead increased to four games with the Marlins’ lost to the Rays. The Braves and the Mets are both still seven and a half games behind the Phils as they both won their games. The Phillies hope that their offense will still be as potent for the rest of their weekend series in St. Louis before going back home to Philadelphia.
Meet Me in St. Louis: The Phillies finally play against the Cardinals.
The Phillies (40-28) will be visiting the Cardinals (40-28, 2nd National League Central) for the first time this season as they begin a three games series with the former World Series Champs. The first game of their series will begin tonight at 8:15 pm Eastern (7:15 pm Central) at the new Busch Stadium. The Phillies will send to the mound Kyle Kendrick (5-2, 4.87), who is coming off of a recent no-decision against the Braves on June 7, where he went only five and one third innings, giving up only two earned runs on four hits, in the Phillies’ 6-2 win. Before that, he had won his last two starts, going for a combined total of twelve and two-thirds innings, giving up six earned runs on twelve hits. Lifetime, he is 2-0 against the redbirds, with both victories coming last year. Kendrick will be trying to improve his season record and lower his ERA, while trying to set the tone for the series between the two old rivals. The Cardinals’ starter will be Todd Wellemeyer (7-1, 2.93), who is coming off of a victory over the Nationals on June 5, where he would go six scoreless innings, giving up only five scattered hits, in the Cardinals’ 4-1 win. He has won five of his last seven starts, with the other two starts being no-decisions. He will be planning to get his eighth win of the season, after missing a start because of an inflamed right elbow, while trying to help his team keep place with the red hot Chicago Cubs.
The Phillies will continue their road trip with the series in St. Louis, with a 4-2 record. Although the offense has not scored as many runs as they did at least two weeks ago, it is still a potent threat, and the bats can errupt once again at any time. The starters are still improving, but they need to stop giving up home runs, since it was because of gopher balls given up by Brett Myers, Cole Hamels and Tom Gordon in the first two games against the Marlins that they lost the series, as that was how the fish was able to knock in all of their runs in the series, otherwise the Marlins’ offense didn’t appear to have been very effective. Except for the grand slam that Gordon gave up in the second game of the recent Marlins series, the relief corps is still the league’s best. The Phillies will be going into St. Louis trying to win the series from the Cardinals, especially with the absent of their main star Albert Pujols. They will be trying to end their three cities road trip with a winning record.
The first place Phillies are leading the Marlins by three games, as the fish prepare to meet the American League Tampa Bay Rays for a three games series in Tampa Bay. The third and fourth place Braves and Mets are both trailing the Phillies by seven and a half games. The Braves will be playing a three games series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Anaheim, while the Mets will be hosting the Texas Rangers for a weekend series. The Phillies are hoping that those three American League teams will help them by defeating their divisional rivals. After their series in St. Louis, the Phillies will be coming back home to Philadelphia to play a three games series with the World Champions Boston Red Sox.
Moyer improves his lifetime record against the Marlins to 9-0 as he help the Phils leave Miami with a win.
Jamie Moyer and reliever Brad Lidge would combine to three hit the Marlins as the Phillies are able to leave Miami with a win, 3-0. Moyer and Marlins’ starter, Scott Olsen would spend the first five innings in a pitchers’ duel before the Phillies are finally able to score the first runs of the game in the top of the sixth. With two men on and two out, and with Ryan Howard batting, Olsen would uncork a wild pitch, which would allow Jimmy Rollins, who has singled earlier, to score from third, while Shane Victorino, who has gotten on base earlier on a force out, would move over to third. Victorino would then score on Marlins’ catcher Matt Treanor’s throwing error, to make a 2-0 game. The Phillies would then add a run in the eighth when Jayson Werth singles in Chase Utley, who has reached base earlier on a single, making it 3-0 Phils. Brad Lidge would pitch the ninth inning in relief of Moyer, recording his eighteenth save in eighteen tries.
Jamie Moyer would get the win, going eight innings, giving up no runs on two hits. His record is now 7-3 with an ERA of 4.12. Brad Lidge would go an inning, as he records his eighteenth save of the season, giving up no runs on one hit. Scott Olsen would get the lost, going seven innings, giving up two runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits. His record is now 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA. Renyel Pinto would pitch two-thirds of an inning, giving up an earned run on one hit. Matt Lindstrom would pitch a third of an inning, giving up no runs on two hits. Logan Kensing would pitch an inning, giving up no runs on two hits.
The Phillies lost their first series since their weekend home stand against the Blue Jays last month, mainly because their pitchers got hit for six home runs, which would score all eleven runs that the Marlins would score during the three games series. Also, because they had lost the series, they would be unable to bury the Marlins early, although neither the Braves or the Mets would be able to take advantage of the Phillies’ problems with the Marlins.
The Phillies (40-28) with the win are now once again twelve games over .500 as they head on to St. Louis for a weekend series with the Cardinals (40-28, 2nd National League Central). The first game of their weekend series will be played tonight at 8:15 pm Eastern (7:15 pm Central) in the New Busch Stadium. The Phillies will send to the mound Kyle Kendrick (5-2, 4.87), who is coming off of a no-decision against the Braves on June 7, where he went five and a third innings, giving up only two earned runs on four hits, in the Phillies’ 6-2 win. He has won his two previous starts. He is 2-0 lifetime against the redbirds, with both wins coming last year. He will be trying to improve his personal record against the Cardinals while trying to help his team forget about their recent bad series in Florida. His opponent will be Todd Wellemeyer (7-1, 2.93), who is coming off of a win against the Nationals on June 5, as he pitched six scoreless innings, giving up only five hits in the Cardinals’ 4-1 win. He has won five of his last seven starts, having not lost a game since April 28. He hopes to make it six wins in eight starts while trying to help the Cardinals keep pace with the red hot Chicago Cubs.
The first place Phillies has increased their lead back to three games with their win over the Marlins, who will now start a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays of the American League at Tampa Bay. They now have a seven and a half games lead over both the Braves and the Mets, after their losts to the Cubs and the D-backs, respectively. The Braves will start a weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, also of the American League, in Anaheim, while the Mets will be facing the Teas Rangers of the American League for three games at home. The Phils hope that when they return to Philadelphia that they have increased their lead over the rest of the division.
Day late post: Grand slam home run sinks the Phils, reduced their lead to two games over the Marlins.
A grand slam home run by Dan Uggla in the bottom of the ninth would help the Marlins to defeat the Phillies, 6-2. The Marlins would score the first run of the game as Jorge Cantu hit his thirteenth home run of the year off of Phillies’ starter Cole Hamels, making it a 1-0 Marlins’ lead. The game would then becomes a pitchers’ duel between Hamels and the Marlins’ starter Andrew Miller, until the Phils would tie the game in the seventh as Chase Utley would single in Shane Victorino, who has earlier doubled. The Marlins would retake the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Cantu would hit his second home run of the night off of Hamels, his fourteenth home run of the year, to make it a 2-1 Marlins’ lead. The Phils would retie the game in the ninth, when Utley grounds into a force out, second to short, scoring pinch runner Eric Bruntlett, who was running for pinch hitter Greg Dobbs, who has earlier singled. In the bottom of the ninth, with Tom Gordon pitching in relief of Hamels, Dan Uggla, with the bases loaded and one out, would hit a grand slam home run, his nineteenth home run of the year, to win the game for the Marlins, 6-2, scoring Hanley Ramirez, who has earlier walked, Cantu, who has singled, and Wes Helm, who has also walked.
Cole Hamels would get a no-decision as he would go eight innings, giving up two earned runs, both on Jorge Cantu solo home runs, on just three hits while striking out thirteen Marlins. Tom Gordon would take the lost as he goes only one third of an inning, as he gives up four earned runs on two hits, one of them Dan Uggla’s grand slam home run, and two walks. His record is now 5-3 with an ERA of 5.19. Andrew Miller would also receive a no-decision as he pitches seven innings plus one batter, giving up only one earned run on four scattered hits while striking out seven Phils. Justin Miller would pitch an inning, giving up no runs on no hits. Kevin Gregg would get the win, after blowing a save opportunity for the fourth time this season, as he goes one inning, giving up a run on one hit. His record is now 5-2 with an ERA of 2.48.
The lost decreases the Phillies’ (39-28) lead over the Marlins (36-29) to two games. The third place Braves were once again unable to take advantage of the Phillies’ lost as they remain six and a half game behind thanks to their own lost to the Cubs. The Mets now trailed the Phils by six and a half games, a percentage point behind the Braves, as they were able to defeat the Diamondbacks. The Phils will now try to leave Miami with at least one victory before heading on to St. Louis for a weekend series with the Cardinals.
Myers, Phillies get hurt by three long balls as the Phils lose, 5-4.
Brett Myers’ main nemesis this year, the long ball, has struck again with a vengence as he gives up three home runs that were to end up being the difference as the Phillies would lose to the Marlins, 5-4. The damage would begin in the very first inning, in fact with the very first Marlins’ batter, as Hanley Ramirez would hit Myers’ first pitch out of the ballpark for his fifteenth home run of the season to give the Marlins a quick 1-0 lead. The Marlins would increase their lead two batters later, as, with Jeremy Hermida on first via a walk, Jorge Cantu would hit a two-run home run for his twelfth home run of the year, to give the Marlins a 3-0 lead. The game would then settle down to become a pitchers’ duel between Myers and Marlins’ starter Ricky Nolasco until the top of the fifth, when, with Myers on first via a Ramirez throwing error, Jimmy Rollins would hit his own two-run home run, his fifth home run of the year, to make it 3-2 Marlins. Unfortunatley for Myers, he would give those two runs right back, as he gives up his second two-run home run of the night, this time to Mike Jacobs, hitting his fifteenth home run of the season, scoring Cantu, who has earlier doubled, to make the score 5-2 Marlins. The Phillies would get a run back in the sixth, as Greg Dobbs hits an RBI single, scoring Pat Burrell, who has reached base earlier on a Luis Gonzalez fielding error, to make it a 5-3 ballgame. Two innings later, in the eighth, Burrell would make it a 5-4 game as he hit a solo home run, his sixteenth home run of the year. The Phils would be unable to develop an effective rally in the ninth as Kevin Gregg records his twelfth save of the year.
Brett Myers would take the lost as he got hurt once again by the long ball, as he would be able to go only five and one third innings, giving up all five earned runs on seven hits. His record is now 3-8 with a ERA of 5.34. Clay Condrey would pitch one and two thirds innings of relief, giving up no runs on no hits. J.C. Romero would go a full inning, also giving up no runs on no hits. Ricky Nolasco would accept the victory as he defeats the Phils for the second time this year, as he would pitch six innings, giving up three runs, none of which were earned thanks to a couple of errors, on four hits. His record is now 6-4 with an ERA of 4.63. Doug Waechter would pitch an inning, giving up no runs on no hits. Joe Nelson would pitch two-thirds of an inning, gving up one run on one hit. Kevin Gregg would pitch one and one third innings, getting his twelfth save, as he gives up no runs on one hit.
The first place Phillies (39-27) lost their first game in five tries, thanks to being unable this time to come back from starting off trailing their opponent. They will continue their three games series with the second place Marlins (35-29) with another night game at Dolphin Stadium. The game will start at 7:10 pm Eastern. The Phillies’ starter will be Cole Hamels (6-4, 3.36), who is coming off his second complete game victory as he defeated the Reds on June 5, as he pitched all nine innings, giving up no runs on three hits, in the Phils’ 5-0 win. His career record against the fish is 2-3 with a ERA of 5.46 in five starts, which would include his recent lost to them on May 31, where he would only eight innings as he got rocked by the fish for seven earned runs on eight hits, in the Phils’ 7-3 lost. He hopes to get even for his earlier lost while continuing his most recent scoreless string by keeping the fish off the board this time. His opponent will be Andrew Miller (4-5, 5.65), who is coming off of a lost to the Reds on June 6, where he would only pitch three and one third innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits, in the Marlins’ 11-3 lost. He has already pitched one game against the Phils this year, pitching a no-decision on June 1, pitching only five innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits in the Marlins’ 7-5 lost. He hope to do as well as he did in his previous outing, while trying to keep from giving the Phils a chance to crush him.
The lost leaves the Phils now leading the Marlins by three full games. They are presently still leading the Braves by six and a half games as they have just lost to the Cubs, 10-5. The Mets are trailing them by seven games, although they are presently trailing the Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth. The Phillies plan to rebound from the lost and try to win the series so that they can leave Florida with a five games lead over the Marlins.
Edit: The Mets have just lost to the Diamondbacks, so they are still trailing the Phillies by seven and a half games.
The Phillies have finished reburying their 100th Anniversary capsule.
But the plan changed. The team moved from Veterans Stadium into Citizens Bank Park before the 2004 season, and the time capsule was unearthed 79 years ahead of schedule.
On Tuesday, members of the Phillies organization gathered for a small ceremony on Pattison Avenue, outside the team’s administrative offices at Citizens Bank Park.
The original time capsule had suffered some damage, so its contents were moved to a new capsule, which was lowered into its new home. It will rest there for the next 75 years inside a marble ledge and beneath layers of metal and concrete, topped off by a bed of flowers.
“In 1983, we weren’t factoring in that we might not be at Veterans Stadium that long,” said David Montgomery, the Phillies’ president, as he stood with his arm resting on the maroon-and-white capsule, adorned with the Phillies’ logo.
The Phillies originally buried the time capsule in 1983 to commemorate the team’s 100th anniversary. At the time, the capsule was filled with a 1983 team media guide, yearbook, calendar, a baseball autographed by the entire ’83 squad, Mike Schmidt’s uniform from that season, a bat autographed by Pete Rose, copies of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, among many other items.
Before the new capsule was placed in the ground Tuesday, the team added several items, including: a piece of artificial turf from Veterans Stadium, a 2008 team yearbook and media guide and tickets to the final game at the Vet in 2003 and first game at Citizens Bank in ’04, along with many other items.
“Michael warned me that it was heavy,” Montgomery said, referring to Mike DiMuzio, the team’s director of ballpark operations.
Montgomery joked that he probably won’t be around to see the capsule come back out of the ground in 2083. But he hopes that, when it does, baseball will still resonate with Philadelphians like it does today.
“I would hope and assume that, 75 years from now, the game will still be played,” Montgomery said, “and people will be able to relate to what was put in there.” (H/T Phillies.com)
I’d been wondering whether they have reburied the time capsule from the 100th Anniversary celebration. Now I know. 
The Phillies are visiting the Marlins in Miami as they plan to seperate completely from the rest of the East.
The first place Phillies (39-26) are visiting the second place Marlins (34-29) for a three games series at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, which they hope will end up with them creating a larger distance between themselves and the rest of the National League East. The first game will start at 7:10 pm Eastern. The Phillies’ starter will be Brett Myers (3-7, 5.13), who is coming off of a lost to the Reds on June 4, where he lost a chance at a no-hitter as he would go seven and a third innings, giving up one earned run on one hit, in the Phils’ 2-0 lost. His career record against the Marlins is 6-7 with a 4.89 ERA in 19 starts, including his recent start against the fish on May 30, in which he would pitch eight innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits, in the Phillies’ 13-3 crushing of the Marlins. He will be looking for his fourth victory of the year while setting up the tone of the series, like he did when the Marlins came into Philadelphia during the weekend before last. The Marlins will counter with Ricky Nolasco (5-4, 5.05), who is coming off of a lost to the Braves on June 5 which saw the end of his four games winning streak, as he pitched only five and two-thirds innings, as he gave up seven earned runs on twelve hits, in the Marlins’ 7-5 lost. He is 2-2 lifetime against the Phillies, which would include his May 31 start the Phils in which he would pitch six and two-thirds innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits, in the Marlins’ 7-3 win. He will be looking to defeat the red hot Phillies while trying to get the Marlins back into the pennant chase.
The Phillies will be looking to increase their now four game lead over the Marlins as they start their three games series against the fish in Miami. The third place Braves are trailing the Phils by six and a half games, as they start their own three games series with the National League Central leader the Cubs in Chicago. The fourth place Mets are behind the Phils by seven and a half games, as they play a three games series with the National League West leader the Diamondbacks in the Bronx.
With the present series the Phillies have an excellent opportunity to take a commanding lead in the National League East by either sweeping or just winning the series, while the Marlins young bloods have a chance to get back into the race by trying to slow down the presently red hot Phillies’ offense.
Utley is still the leading votes getter in the National League All-Star ballot.
The same can be said for his performance in the All-Star Game balloting.
Never mind that Utley is crushing the competition at second base, but he also entered his third week as the leading National League vote-getter, with 1,284,961 votes — far ahead of the second place second baseman, Mark DeRosa of the Cubs.
 |
Last week, Utley completed a run of homering in five straight games — May 28-June 2 — for the second time this season. He started the 2007 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2 in San Francisco at AT&T Park, and he played in the 2006 contest, going 1-for-2 in Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
The Phillies superstar with the special left-handed stroke is lined up for his third appearance and second start.
“Every time he hits a home run, half the dugout looks at each other and goes, ‘Wow, how does he do it so easily?’” Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino said. “There are athletes in every game that you can say are great, and some are just good. Chase is a great player, probably the best in the game.”
This would be Utley’s first career appearance at Yankee Stadium, the final season of the historic ballpark.
Teammate Jimmy Rollins, the reigning NL Most Valuable Player, has held steady at fifth place among shortstops, with his first-half production slowed because of a sprained left ankle.
The 79th annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 15 will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage. XM Radio will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be the fourth held at Yankee Stadium and the eighth one in New York City. The Yankees previously hosted the All-Star Game in 1939, ’60 and ’77; the Polo Grounds held the game in ’34 and ’42; Ebbets Field was the site in ’49; and Shea Stadium hosted the ’64 tilt.
Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until Wednesday, July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2008 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 6. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the Monster 2008 All-Star Final Vote at MLB.com.
But the voting doesn’t end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet at the All-Star Game via the Monster 2008 All-Star Game MVP vote at MLB.com.
There are other Phillies who could join Utley. Ryan Howard, who has gotten hot after batting .163 in his first 35 games, ranks fourth among NL first basemen on the ballot, up from fifth a week ago. Pat Burrell dropped to ninth among outfielders.
(H/T Phillies.com)
I think it’s safe to say that Utley is a lock as the National League starter at Second Base for this year’s All-Star Game at Yankees Stadium. Too bad it doesn’t look like any of the other Phillies will be at the game as starters.
mlblogsphilliesredpinstripes
Recent Comments