Midnight’s Children

The Phillies received a complete game shutout from Cole Hamels yesterday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The 5-0 win put put the Phillies lead over the Florida Marlins at 2-1/2 games afdter Flordia lost to Atlanta. Hamels effort was his best outing in the last month. He threw a 3-hitter and was really on top of his game in the victory. The Phillies are now off on a nine-game road swing to Atlanta, St. Louis and Flordia. Jamie gets the start tonight against Atlanta’s Tim Hudson. The Phillies need a solid road trip to keep their lead in the National League East. Atlanta is currently 3-1/2 games behind Philadelphia and would like a sweep to get them even closer.

The Phillies continue their winning ways with a 5-4 win against the Reds Monday night in Philadelphia. Chase Utley led the way with his major league leading 21st home run. The Reds played without Ken Griffey Jr. who is still pursing his 600th home run. Kyle Kendick pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 hits to improve to 5-2 on the seaosn. The bullpen threw scoreless baseball with Brad Lidge closing out the 9th inning for his 14th save. The Marlins lost to Atlanta so the Phillies lead in the N.L. East is at 1-1/2 games.

The Philles left Cincinnati today after a 5-3 win to earn a split of the 4 games weekend series with the Reds. Cole Hamels got his first win of the seaosn and Brad Lidge his first save. Hamels went 7 innings allowing 1 earned run with Tom Gordon pithcing the 8th inning and Lidge came on in the 9th for the Phillies. Pat Burrell blasted 2 homers to lead the Phillies offense while Jimmy Rollins and Geoff Jenkins added to the lojng ball totals. The Phillies improved to 3-4 on the season and are now off to face the Mets in New York tomorrow afternoon.

The Phillies can thank Jimmy Rollins for the comeback win. He tied the game in the bottom of the 8th  and won the game with a walk off rbi in the bottom of the 11th. Despite the driving rain the fireworks did go off at the game around 10:30 p.m. The Phillies start a 3 game set with the division leading Mets next. They are 3 behind.

There will be fireworks tonight at Citizens Bank park after the Phillies game. The Phils are taking on the Reds in game 3 of the series. Adam Eaton will start for the Phils. he has been roughed up lately so he really needs a good outing tonight. It is supposed to rain, so we will see if the rain holds off for the fireworks.

The Phillies escaped a first inning bases loaded jam and never looked back. Howard blasted his 17th home run of the year complimented it with 4 strikeouts but the real star was Ruiz.  he had 3 hits, 4 rbi’s and even stole home!

The Phillies are jumping all over the Reds in this game and lead  6-1 in the second inning. Ryan Howard has hit another home run but the real star has been Ruiz. He singles home a run and has stolen home himself! Cincinnati has pulled the starting pitcher Bailey.

I really hope the Phillies take care of business with the Reds starting tomorrow. I have tickets for the June 18th fireworks game. Unfortuanetly Adam Eaton is pitching! Either he is going to pitch 7 innings of shutout ball or he will get lit up for 12 runs. I should get ready to catch Griffey’s 585th homerun ball now.

The Phillies win their first series of the year beating the Reds 9-3 behind Garcia’s 5 innings of 2 run work. Ryan Howard returned from injury to hit a homer and the Phillies have also won 2 in a row for the first time this year. Helms, Dobbs and Ruiz combine to leave 12 of the Philly 19 runners on base.

W: F. García
L: M. Belisle

Cole Hamel’s gets a complete game victory vs the Reds only giving up one home run to Jeff Conine in the second while striking out 15! I think the Phillies have figured out how to win, put Hamel’s on the mound. Utley provided 3 out of 4 rbi’s and the Phil sonly left 7 on base, 3 as a team. This is a good win all the way around.

W: C. Hamels
L: E. Milton