Tonight’s marvelous game was courtesy of Ryan Howard. He erased a horrible night at the plate, including three strikeouts, by belting a walk-off, two-run blast to center in the 10th inning, leading the Phils over the Dodgers 5-4 to open the series.
Howard also erased a tough outing by Billy Wagner, who threw 43 pitches over two innings, well over his limit. He hurt his chances of taking advantage of that cheap airfare to Boston by tying a career high with three walks and surrendering a go-ahead run in the tenth.
Howard’s blast also erased, or at least lessened the chance of, Wags charging back into the locker room and giving Bobby Abreu the business. Abreu missed a ball that should have been caught, extending the marathon inning for Wags.
And way back when, it erased another shaky start by Brett Myers, who started things out by allowing a home run to Oscar (grab your Mexican league stat book) Robles to lead off the game.
What else does it erase? Oh yes. National League Player of the Week and Beerleaguer first-half MVP Chase Utley is totally on fire, and delivered another two-out RBI.
I'm also high on Ugueth Urbina and Pat Burrell, but that will have to wait.
And I’m down on Kenny Lofton and Abreu at the moment. That, too, will have to wait.
Because tonight, it’s time to celebrate, as the predictable unpredictability called Phillies baseball is taking this writer back into my archived win-streak templates.
Tomorrow’s post shall be called ... ah yes ... “A glimmer of hope.”
Chase is playing like a team MVP. I checked it out..Robles was hitting .390 with Mexico City Reds before he got the call to the Dodgers. Baseball America having fun last week in it's Prospect Hot Sheet, listed 40 year old Felix Jose who is ripping the ball with Oaxaca in the Mexican League. He's trying to be the next Julio Franco.
Posted by: martin | Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 09:20 AM
I don't think the Red Sox will lose interest in Billy. I think the Phils will lose interest in the Sox and hold on to Wagner for their own [likely] futile stretch run. Too bad. In the end they will get nothing in return.
Posted by: Tom Goodman | Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 10:16 AM
Well said about Oogy. They made the point on the broadcast last night, and it's true, that Oogy has been lights out since his poor initial outing. I still don't think it was a good trade, because I'd love to have traded Bell instead, but Wade did significantly improve the Bullpen with that one. Props to him.
Posted by: pawnking | Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 10:59 AM
PK:
The thing I admired most about your early comments on my site and others was your patience with this team. Here we are again, with the Phils in position to make a run at the postseason, proving once again that baseball plays out over a very long season.
With Urbina, I always thought patience was the key when determining his status, too. This is the time of year when having a guy like him can really help. That's why relief pitching is so sought after at the deadline.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 11:11 AM
I'm getting cautiously optimistic again. Damn, it's like this all the time with this team! I'll get my hopes up and they stomp on my heart. I gotta give Elmer credit for putting Utley in the 3-hole. Great move. Now if Abreu comes around hitting.............
It'll be interesting to see what they do when Thome is ready. I cannot see them trading Howard now, no way! I still don't have any faith in Wade, just hoping that he doesn't screw it all up somehow.
Hamels won again last night, but had 5 BBs.
Posted by: theragtopguy | Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 01:17 PM