Phillies Sweep the Padres

As seen on Phillies Nation.

One series can make a big difference. It was just a few days ago when the lowly Houston Astros swept the Phillies in four games. Three games later, the Phillies completed a sweep of their own against the first-place San Diego Padres. This series came down to the pitching, but the Phillies managed to score five runs for Cole Hamels in today’s 5-0 victory.

The Padres entered today’s game as one of the best fielding teams in baseball. After today’s game, that is hard to believe. The Friars committed four fielding errors. The Phillies took advantage of the mistakes, and tacked on five runs.

The first run came on an RBI single from Jimmy Rollins, but the big blow came off the bat of Mike Sweeney. Sweeney played in replace of Ryan Howard, who had a scheduled off day. In the seventh inning, Sweeney ripped a liner over the right field wall for a two-run shot. It was Sweeney’s first home run as a Phillie, and his first in three months. Later on, Jayson Werth added an insurance run, smashing a home run of his own.

One run was all Cole Hamels needed. Receiving run support was a new thing for him, as he picked up the victory. Hamels shut down the Padres over eight innings, surrendering only four hits. It was surprising that Hamels finished the day without walking a batter, because he had a high pitch count and often fell deep into counts. Hamels struck out six.

If the Phillies ever needed a sweep, it was this one. With the Braves rallying for a win, this game became more and more important. This sweep could add new life to the Phillies, especially after that horrific series with Houston.

Phillies Seek to Sweep Friars

For full gameday, visit Phillies Nation.

Philadelphia Phillies (72-57) at San Diego Padres (76-52)
Cole Hamels (7-10, 3.47 ERA) vs. Clayton Richard (12-5, 3.55 ERA)

The Phillies have rebounded quickly after being swept by the lowly Houston Astros. Now, the Phillies are on the verge of sweeping the first place San Diego Padres. This series has been about pitching, as both teams haven't gathered too many runs. That's usually how PETCO plays out anyway.

Cole Hamels, a San Diego native, always has success when facing the Friars. Hamels has a 3.18 ERA against the Padres in his career, but a more impressive 2.18 ERA at PETCO Park. Hamels keeps improving as the season progresses, however the problem seems to be run support. The lack of run support for Hamels is getting extremely tiring. Hopefully that changes today.

Overall, Clayton Richard has solid numbers for the season. His repitoire includes a two-seam fastball, a slurve, and a changeup. He typically keeps the ball down, forcing many ground balls.

Bats Back Hamels

Also seen on Phillies Nation.

Prior to the game, several Phillies enjoyed watching (and even celebrated) Mark Buehrle’s perfect game. Hours later, Cole Hamels wasn’t perfect, but pitched well enough to earn his sixth victory of the year.

The Phillies took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Pedro Feliz singled, Jimmy Rollins (2-for-4) doubled, and Chase Utley singled, each driving in a run apiece. Feliz (3-for-5) singled in the third to extend the Phillies lead by four.

In the fourth, Chase Headley’s double and Kyle Banks’ home run made it a 4-3 ballgame. Luckily, the Phillies had no trouble against Padres’ starter Kevin Correia. The Phillies kept tacking on runs. Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth (3-for-5) each drove in runs. With their runs batted in, Howard and Ibanez each have 70 RBI for the season. They are third and fourth respectively in the National League in that category.

The Phillies roughed up Correia for eight runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings. Despite allowing three runs in one inning, Hamels settled down. He pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits and two walks. He struck out six.

Carlos Ruiz hit his fifth homer of the year. Everth Cabrera drove in a meaningless run off Andrew Carpenter in the eighth. The Phillies won 9-4 in a game that was originally scheduled for April 20. They have now won 11 of their last 12.

In other Phillies news, J.C Romero and Chad Durbin have been placed on the 15-day disbaled list. Andrew Carpenter and Tyler Walker have been recalled.

Padres In Town: One Night Only

For full gameday, visit Phillies Nation.

San Diego Padres (37-58) are playing the Philadelphia Phillies (53-39).

Kevin Correia (6-7, 4.34 ERA) starts against Cole Hamels (5-5, 4.72 ERA).

The Padres are in town for one night to make up a rescheduled game from April 20. The Phillies may be catching a break. The Padres were 9-4 and the Phillies were 5-6 on the date the game was originally scheduled. Now, the Padres are well below .500 and the Phillies are in the midst of a hot streak.

Cole Hamels' last outing was cut short due to a rain delay, forcing him to leave after five innings. Hamels loves facing the team he grew up rooting for. In six starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.25 ERA against the Padres.

Kevin Correia leads the Padres with 11 quality starts. He has allowed three runs or fewer in 15 of 19 starts. He lost to the Phillies in June after being roughed up for four runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings.

Peavy To ChiSox?

The San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox have agreed to a deal in which Jake Peavy will be sent to the White Sox. However, Peavy has a no trade clause and the deal is up to him.

During the offseason, there were rumors Peavy would be in Chicago for the 2009 season, but with the Cubs. The deal didn't fall, and now he has to chose to wave or not to wave.

The players believed to be sent to San Diego are pitchers Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda and two other players.

Mat Latos and Will Inman, two prized prospects, were promoted by the Padres which indicated a potential move of Peavy.

Peavy is 3-5 with a 3.89 ERA and this season. In his career, the 2007 Cy Young winner is 89-67 with a 3.27 ERA and 1325 strikeouts and 1.18 WHIP.

A move the Padres did make was trading Jody Gerut to the Brewers in exchange for Tony Gwynn Jr.

UPDATE (8:13 PM): Peavy turns down deal to White Sox.

Ibanez Walks Off

Welcome to Philadelphia Raul Ibanez. Greeted with chants of "Rauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul" and shaving cream pies, Ibanez loves every minute of it.

Chan Ho Park started today against Josh Geer, and lasted 5 innings. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits and a walk, including Adrian Gonzalez's fifth home run of the year. His brother, Edgar Gonzalez hit a tripe in which Ibanez could not make the play on, eventually resulting in two runs for the Padres.

The Phillies didn't start to get to Geer until the 6th inning. Eric Bruntlett, who got the start at shortstop over the slumping Jimmy Rollins, reached on an error. The error proved to be costly when Chase Utley smoked his fourth home run of the season, a two run shot putting the Phils within two runs.

In the eighth inning Jimmy Rollins came off the bench and hit a pinch hit solo home run and it became a 4-3 game.

Padres closer Heath Bell, who is 7/7 in save opportunities, was not available after pitching several days without rest. The Padres opted to go with Edwin Moreno, who hadn't allowed a run in seven innings.

Ryan Howard led off the ninth with a bloop single that Jody Gerut couldn't make the diving catch on. Ibanez got ahead 2-0, and Moreno threw a changeup that Ibanez crushed. The only question, fair or foul? Moreno waved it foul, but it stayed fair for his team leading fifth home run. A walk off Raul Ibanez!

"Our lineup is good for him. He fits," Charlie Manuel said of Ibanez. "I
always liked him as a hitter in the American League. He was an offensive player
back when I saw him. He's swinging the bat real good right now."

QUOTE SOURCE: Phillies.com

Streak Over

It had to end sometime. Brad Lidge's consecutive streak ended at 47, not including the postseason, the third longest streak in major league history.

Raul Ibanez gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the second, but it was erased by Adrian Gonzalez's two run home run an inning later.

After that, starter Brett Myers allowed just one more run. In 6.2 innings, he allowed three earned runs on six hits and four walks as he struck out six. Myers even helped himself with the bat, like he did during the 2008 postseason. He ripped a double off the right field wall, tossing the bat like he thought it was gone. He score a run, putting the Phillies within a run.

Ryan Howard tied the game at 3 with his second home run of the year. But it didn't take long for the Padres to regain the lead. In the eighth, Nick Hundley's RBI double off Ryan Madson put the Padres ahead.

However, Chase Utley's third home run of the season tied the game in the bottom of the eighth and Pedro Feliz his a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 5-4 lead.

Going into the ninth inning, things looked good for the Phillies with Mr. Perfect coming onto the mound. Tom McCarthy announced that Lidge had completed 47 consecutive save opportunities, and that was the end of it.

Scott Hairston got a pinch hit double, and scored on Brian Giles' ground ball to tie the game. The Phils played the tie, with the infield in, but it wouldn't matter because Lidge allowed two more baserunners and with two outs, Kevin Kouzmanoff smashed a three run home run.

Lidge would receive a standing ovation as the Phillies Phaithful recognized his streak, and that he is only human.


Heath Bell would not blow a save, as he completed his 7th save of the year and the Padres went onto win, 8-5.

Call of the day: It wasn't his most recognizable call, but to Lou Marson, it meant the world.

"Well hit, Marson is going to hit a home run. Outta Here! Lou Marson in his
major league debut has slugged a homer."

"I remember hearing the call," Marson recalled after being asked of Kalas'
call. "It was definitely an honor and was very special to me."

Phillies Blow 7-1 Lead

On the day they honored Harry Kalas, the Phillies blew a 7-1 lead against the San Diego Padres in their 8-7 loss.

In the first 3.2 innings, the Phillies scored 7 runs off Padres starter Chris Young. Chase Utley started the rally with a three run home run as "Outta Here!" was played over the P.A system.

Chris Coste smacked a two run double giving the Phillies a 5 spot in the first inning as the Phillies batted around.

Luis Rodriguez homered off starter Cole Hamels, but with a Pedro Feliz RBI single and Ryan Howard RBI double, the Phillies had a comfortable 7-1 lead.

The Padres started to get to Hamels in the fifth. Scott Hairston hit a two run home run, and in the sixth Nick Hundley went solo. All of a sudden, it was a two run ballgame.

Cole Hamels velocity was up from his last start and lasted six innings, however, he allowed five earned runs on one walk and eight hits, including three home runs. Hamels struck out four.

Ryan Madson, who prior today was almost unhittable, couldn't hold the Padres as he allowed three earned runs in one inning. Jody Gerut's RBI single put the Padres within one, but he scored the go ahead run when Hairston doubled to drive in two.

In the bottom of the eighth with two outs and Greg Dobbs on second, Utley poked a single threw the infield. Dobbs was waved around, but was thrown out of the plate as he was tripped up by the catcher. Inning over.

The Padres looked to blow the open in the ninth when they had the bases loaded with no outs, but Brad Lidge escaped the jam.

The Phillies rallied in game before and they hoped to do it again, but with a runner on first and two outs, pinch hitter Matt Stairs was called out on strikes as Heath Bell earned the save for the Padres.

Call of the day: On May 2, 2008, Aaron Rowand returned to the Philadelphia and gave the San Francisco Giants a 5-4 lead... until Pat Burrell struck.

"Long Drive! It is.. OUTTA HERE! Pat Burrell! (laughs) Pat Burrell! With a
two run game winning tenth inning home run! Can you believe it? What a
tremendous ending to this game! The Phillies down to their last strike, and
Burrell delivers!

Just Enough

The Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres, 2-1 tonight. They also took the series 2-1 as they remain 2 games out of the National League East.

Cole Hamels dominated his hometown team. Hamels pitched 8 innings. He allowed just 1 ER on 7 hits and did not allow a walk. The only disappointing thing about Hamels' performance was that he only struck out 3 batters. That is very low for Cole.

Lidge matched Hamels' strike out total for the entire game in just 1 inning. Lidge earned his 30th save in 30 opportunities by striking out the side.

The Phillies run support consisted of a sac fly by Jayson Werth and a homerun by Pat Burrell. Cole Hamels has't gotten enough run support by his teammates, but today it was just enough.

This was a huge game that the Phillies needed to win. It's the dog days of summer, and every win counts.

The Phillies take on the last place Washington Nationals at home on Tuesday. Joe Blanton will take the mound for the Phillies against Jason Bergmann.

Road Trip

The Phillies haven't had a good road trip at all. They are just 1-5 on this West Coast Road Trip. They were swept by the Dodgers in a 4 game series, and yesterday they lost to the last place Padres, 8-3.

The Padres aren't known for their offense, but they scored 8 runs last night in the Phillies loss.

The Phillies only win on the road trip came in the first game against the Padres as they won 1-0. Jamie Moyer out pitched Greg Maddux in an old fashion pitchers duel. The only run came on Pat Burrell's homerun.

In the Dodgers series, the Phillies had so many chances to win, but didn't score in key situations. The pitching, especially the bullpen who has been good all year, gave up big runs. Facing Manny Ramirez didn't help either.

None the less, the Phillies road trip has not been a good one. Horrible. And that's an understatement. It's been that bad.

The Phillies are now 2 games back of the National League East and need a win tonight with Cole Hamels on the mound. The game will be televised nationally. Hamels needs the run support. His last few starts he hasn't got much run support, despite pitching very good.

Last time Hamels pitched in Petco, he got the loss, losing 1-0. Run support is tonight's key to the game.