Kyle Kendrick (5-2, 4.87) and Todd Wellemeyer (7-1, 2.93) clash in the first of three from Busch Stadium. First pitch is 8:15.
Best of the press notes: There's lots of good free information to copy and paste for your reading enjoyment tonight, courtesy of the Phillies. Brad Lidge is 18-for-18 in save opportunities this season, which sets a Phillies record for most consecutive saves to start a season since 1975, when the current save rule was instituted (three runs or less). The previous club record was 15 straight by Al Holland in 1984. After committing 35 errors in their first 41 games of the season (.978 fielding percentage), the Phillies have made just six in their last 27 games (.994 fielding percentage). Overall, the Phillies rank 8th in the NL in fielding percentage (.984). The Phillies are 9-1 in Kendrick's last 10 starts. He's holding opponents to a .235 (16-68) average with RISP this season, including .111 (2-18) in his last four starts. Pat Burrell, who's hitting .318 on this road trip, has reached base safely in 60 of his 66 games this season, including 30 straight.
"Pat Burrell, who's hitting .318 on this road trip, has reached base safely in 60 of his 66 games this season, including 30 straight."
That Pat Burrell is washed up. Why not 66 of 66?
Posted by: CJ | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 06:56 PM
OT: I'm saddened by the loss of Tim Russert, who was the best at what he did.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 06:58 PM
J. I saw someone write that Russert and William Buckley are having one hell of a good conversation in heaven right now.
Posted by: squatter | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 07:20 PM
The Russert thing stunned me...He was one of the last true reporters. Now we're stuck with bums like O'Reilly and Nancy Grace and their crap.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 07:21 PM
The bad news is that Al Holland had an abominable second half in 1984 and finished the year with 10 losses.
God, am I becoming Bill Conlin?
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 07:41 PM
NEPP: Amen. Couldn't agree more.
Posted by: Hope SE | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Gotta disagree here: Russert was a power-apologist.
Amy Goodman summed it up pretty well: If you give in to the MSM, don't be surprised if you end up in hell.
Posted by: PhillyBlunt | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 07:52 PM
Hey Blunt...could you not walk over a good guy's grave.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Wellemyer has excellent numbers but he strikes me as a guy who is pitching over his head & is due for some regression to the mean. I'd like to see it start tonight -- and quickly.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:16 PM
THE MAN.
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:19 PM
M-V-P!!!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:20 PM
BACK TO BACK JACKS!
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:20 PM
The bats are back.
Posted by: AFish | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Back to Back...Very nice start to the game. Good Job Ryno!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Alright, is there anyone left out there who doesn't believe in the reverse Beerleaguer jinx?
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:21 PM
What...you think all the kingman talk might have had an effect?
I really think some of the players are ardent BLers.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:22 PM
reverse jinx works again!
Posted by: The Theory | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:22 PM
MAKE THAT 3!!!!!!!
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:22 PM
BAP got his wish re Wellemeyer.
Posted by: AFish | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME!?!?!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM
My fantasy team thanks you Pat!!!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:24 PM
phils power just walked into busch stadium and flexed
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:25 PM
That's the way the heart of the order should hit!
Posted by: NCPhilly | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Anyone watching on ESPN Gamecast? They added some cool features to it including hit charts and what not.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:27 PM
now if they could only get their leadoff man on...
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Jenkins is a bum.
...
What a rare treat, though. The Phils finish the top of the first getting, and not giving up, three. Well, yet.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Isn't Jenkins doing exactly what we expected when they signed him? Being a good half of a platoon in RF? His numbers are pretty good this season considering. He's on pace for 16 HRs, 50 RBI and he's batting .276.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Pete Happy!
Yes, I'm that happy he got a hit.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:34 PM
From the Gamecast it looks like Wellemeyer is falling apart...hows it look on TV?
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:35 PM
The reverse Jinx is official.
it cannot be denied.
Posted by: mike cunningham | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Wellemeyer is pitching bp if both Feliz and Ruiz are hitting him.
Posted by: AFish | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Wellemeyer is throwing some hittable stuff, no doubt.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM
BL jinx in full effect tonight...good job Chooch!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Come on, Kendrick. You bunt like Jason Werth.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Why is Jimmy Williams coaching third?
Posted by: AFish | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:39 PM
Kendrick's a bum!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:39 PM
I tell you that Utley fella is never gonna be a good player...lol.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Dang...I was riding my bike home from work during the first inning. Sorry I missed all the fireworks!
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:46 PM
"Let's Face it" that was a 3 pitch report from TMac.
Anyone have a good handle on his P/SR ratio compared to other baseball sideline reporters?
Posted by: mike cunningham | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:48 PM
The reverse jinx is like gravity. You can't see it. You can't touch it. But it an undeniable force of nature.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:55 PM
That looked more like the Ryan Howard I've come to know.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:56 PM
BAP: The reverse jinx is like gravity. You can't see it. You can't touch it. But it an undeniable force of nature.
LOL...very true.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:01 PM
He'll probably make me eat my words, but I'm not impressed with Wellemeyer despite the numbers he's put up this season. This is the first I've seen him. On paper, their rotation is nothing special at all, but I guess D. Duncan knows how to get the best from them.
Meanwhile, Rich Dubee's greatest portfolio piece - Kendrick - keeps dealing.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Duncan's a hell of a pitching coach...its amazing what he can do with a mediocre talent guy.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Bah. Jinxed him.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Dammnit!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:07 PM
This feels like one of those Flyers games from 5 years ago where they get 3 quick goals in the 1st period and then trap the rest of the way and try to hang on for the W.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:08 PM
gotta love how kk gives up that dinger then strikes out and pops up the next two like it didnt even faze him...
damn! then comes to the plate and pops a double.
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Don't lead off the fourth inning swinging first pitch. Wellemeyer has been missing all night. Chooch is just too impatient.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Everything about Wellemeyer reminds me of Curt Schilling.
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Heh, Wellesmeyer's MLB Gameday photo looks like a poor-man's Michael Rapaport.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Great AB by Vic...way to wear him down!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:19 PM
Bases loaded... the Achilles heel of the Fightins.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Chase Utley... the Achilles Heel of the Phillies' Achilles Heel.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:21 PM
CHASE
MVP
That's all I have to say about that.
Posted by: mike cunningham | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Wellemeyer was Eatonesque.
Posted by: AFish | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:22 PM
That's UT-TASTIC!!!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Utley just does what it takes. They had a pitcher on the ropes, he throws him over.
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Is Wellemeyer done for the night at 90 pitches?
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:23 PM
I don't watch many Cardinals games, but whenever I do see them, they never impress me. Even when Carpenter was a Cy Young candidate, the Phils could hit him.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:23 PM
We never cease to give Kendrick a tremendous amount of run support.
Posted by: king myno | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Good job Kingman!
~tongue-in-cheek~
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Gavin Floyd beat them in his one shining moment from that experiement in 2006. I remember they crushed Suppan in a Sunday game as well.
Posted by: Jason | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:27 PM
The maturation of Pat Burrell's sense of the strike zone has been an amazing thing to watch. This is a guy that used to swing at everything...look at him now: .423 OBP!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Some serious, serious seed eating going on in that Phillies dugout.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:33 PM
You know everything is going right when Feliz draws a walk on an 8 pitch AB.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:35 PM
wow.
I guess Beerleaguer reverse jinx is available in Spanish.
Feliz walks.
Chooch another big hit.
Wow.
Posted by: mike cunningham | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM
I took the Phils giving 1.5 and the over (9.5) tonight. That's looking pretty good so far.
Posted by: king myno | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Stupid Chooch and his warning track power. Either drop it short of the wall and let it bounce off the wall, or put it over. All you're doing is hurting the team with these ground-rule, two-runs score doubles. Jeeze.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Damn! Good hit Chooch!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Even KK is hitting tonight!
Posted by: kbless | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Wow... wow.
In honor of tonight's game, I'm starting Yakity Sax on a loop in iTunes.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:38 PM
kendrick with the ribbie!
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:38 PM
This is the second-best team in the NL, tied with the Phils?
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Is Carson angry yet?
Posted by: AFish | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:39 PM
So...who had Kendrick going 2-2 in the same inning?
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:40 PM
This is the kind of game that the Phils needed after three tough ones against the Marlins. The offense is heating up, the bullpen gets some relief, and Cholly's gut can operate on cruise control.
Posted by: joe l | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Okay, stat geeks...who was the last pitcher with 2 hits in one inning?
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:40 PM
Offensive inconsistency!
I'm too lazy to look up stats on a Friday night, but if Sophist comes back later and has any fire in him, I'd love to see where Kendrick ranks on the 'receiving run support' list since he came up. I have to imagine he's top 10, at the very worst.
Posted by: king myno | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Walkin' Man!...JRoll has 3 BBs so far tonight.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Would this be the time to remind everyone of a certain game in St. Louis last September in which the Phillies led 11-0?
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:42 PM
This must be making Carson crazy.
Posted by: mike cunningham | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:42 PM
...and its only the 4th inning.
this is awesome.
Posted by: redbeard | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I just realized that the odds are quite good that Clay Condrey will get his second save of the year tonight. I better pick him up in my fantasy league.
Posted by: king myno | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:43 PM
You know, it's okay to boo, Cardinals fans.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:43 PM
I hope Kendrick's kept his arm warm...this has been one long half-inning.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:43 PM
@ RSB:
Like telling your wife there's a no hitter when it's only the 5th inning, there's no need for you to bring that up now. Mmkay?
Posted by: Phils Phan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Villone has thrown 12 pitches more than Kendrick, in 2/3 of an inning.
Posted by: Hope SE | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Mmkay.
Posted by: RSB | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Cardinals Pitchers: 4 IP, 136 pitches
Kyle Kendrick: 3 IP, 34 pitches
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:50 PM
You're right. Cardinals fans absolutley never boo. How do you have no reaction whatsoever? Phils fans boo too much but at least it shows a pulse.
Posted by: BobbyD | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:54 PM
This is the perfect Friday night game - a 12 run lead by 10 pm. I'd never do anything to jinx the Phils, but that is quite a large lead, and I feel comfortable leaving the game in Kyle Kendrick and Clay Condrey's hands.
Posted by: king myno | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Good work by KK to come out and pitch a strong inning after the long half inning by the Offense.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Really like it when the Phillies blow up a bullpen in the first game of a series.
Posted by: Spitz | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:58 PM
The most impressive thing tonight has been the three shut down innings by Kendrick after the Phils score. When "Ace" Myers pitches, well, it is usually a different story.
Posted by: Dull | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:58 PM
The down side for us East Coast fans is this game won't be over until well after midnight.
Posted by: clout | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Doesn't this performance by Kendrick make him the first PH choice in extra innings after Cholly uses up his bench?
Posted by: clout | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Have I mentioned how impressed I am by Burrell's strike zone recognition? Another BB for the Phillies.
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:02 PM
They had a great graphic on TV:
Kendrick since his recall last summer:
33 starts, 189.3 IP, 15-6, 4.23 ERA.
And this is a guy several prominent posters here wanted to bury.
Posted by: clout | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Feliz comes through again in a clutch situation!!!
Posted by: NEPhilliesPhan | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:04 PM