Crushed at Citi Field
What a rough week for Phillies fans. After getting swept in a 3 game series and unable to score a single run against their division rival Mets, the Phillies headed down to Florida against another division rival to redeem themselves. The Phillies were on a 5 game losing streak (2 to Boston and 3 to the Mets) and looked to end that streak with Kyle Kendrick (my twin) on the mound.
Kyle Kendrick (3-2)and the relief pitchers provided the defense that the Phillies needed in order to win 3-2. Kendrick bounced back nicely after a rough outing against Boston giving up 5 ER in 4.2 innings against Dice K's 1 hitter last Saturday. New closer Jose Contreras shut down the Marlins in the final inning earning his 3rd save of the season. Contreras gave up 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in his outing and I think it could be a permanent role since Ryan Madsen and Brad Lidge are on the DL.
Ryan Howard helped the offense by going 2-4 with an RBI and scoring a run in the 4th. Howard has started hot this season raising his average to .295 and becoming an all around hitter. Howard normally has a slow start and heats up in August and September down the stretch. His power stats are down this year but because he is such a homerun threat, pitchers are not throwing him anything that he can hit. It is even harder for him since the infielders shift towards his pull side. Since Howard is the victim of off-speed junk to keep him off balance, Jayson Werth has benefited by batting behind him and seeing better pitches. Werth is batting .309 with 33 RBI's and 9 homeruns.
The Phillies (27-20) take on the Marlins (24-25) tonight and will be a pitching duel between 2 aces; Roy Halladay (6-3, 2.22 ERA) against Josh Johnson (5-1, 2.43). Halladay is coming off his worst outing of the year against the Red Sox last Sunday and Johnson has only let up 1 earned run in his last 3 starts and 0 in his last 2. This should be a great match up tonight and hopefully the Phillies will break out the bats and give their starting ace the run support that he deserves.
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