Year In Review: Phillies Push Back Braves

This is a 2010 Year In Review. This is one top moment that appeared on Phillies Nation.

On September 1, the Phillies were three games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. The Phillies had a history of being a hot team in September, and it looked as if the division race would go down to the final games.

The Phillies got on a hot streak and moved ahead of the Braves in the standings. Eventually, a gap was built between the first place Phillies and second place Braves. Our top moment, September 22, 2010, marks the night when Philadelphia could unofficially put the Braves in the rear view mirror.

The game began with a promising matchup of Tommy Hanson and Roy Oswalt. Neither starter allowed a run. Hanson surrendered just two hits and three walks over six innings. Oswalt pitched remarkably as well, tossing seven shutout innings. He only gave up one hit and one walk.
But with no runs on the board, the Phillies had to rely on the offense and bullpen, both which were questionable at times in 2010. On the offensive front, there really wasn't one guy that would consistently be the hero. Somebody new would always step up. Who would it be this time?

At the beginning of 2009, there were plenty of "RAUUUUUUUL" chants to go around. However, they weren't as common in 2010 as Ibanez somewhat struggled at the plate. In this game against the Braves, the chants returned. Ibanez came through in the eighth inning, slicing a double down the left field line, scoring Jayson Werth. It was the lone run of the game, but it was all that was needed as Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge finished it off.

The 1-0 victory marked the Phillies tenth straight win, but more importantly pushed the Braves to six games back in the division. The Phillies could quietly say goodbye the Braves, and look forward to another National League East crown.


Other Top Moments:

July 8: Brian Schnieder came up clutch with a 12th inning walk-off home run against the Cincinnati Reds to give the Phillies a 4-3 victory.

Year In Review: Phillies Rally Against Marmol

This is a 2010 Year In Review. This is one top moment that appeared on Phillies Nation.

Top Moments on Phillies Nation #25 and #24 came on comebacks after Brad Lidge blew a save. Number 23 involves another blown save, only this time it was not Lidge. The Phillies were on the other end.

At Wrigley Field, Cole Hamels and Randy Wells were tossing a pitcher's duel. Hamels finished the night after seven strong innings, allowing only one earned run. The lone run came on a suicide squeeze, laid down by Ryan Theriot, which scored rookie Starlin Castro.

Hamels was solid, but the offense had difficulties scoring. A lack of run support was very common in 2010. Then again, so were late inning rallies.

With Carlos Marmol closing, Greg Dobbs, Wilson Valdez, and Chad Durbin due up, the game appeared to be over. Dobbs popped up. Brian Schneider pinched hit for Valdez and drew a walk. Ross Gload, who substituted for Durbin, also drew a walk. All of a sudden, the Phillies had two men on base, including a runner in scoring position. Down by one run, there was certainly hope.

Marmol was extremely erratic, but struck out Shane Victorino for the second out. One out away from defeat, the Phillies had to rely on Placido Polanco, who was fresh off the disabled list. Polanco came through like he did so many times in 2010, delivering a game-tying RBI single. Schnieder looked to be a dead duck at the plate, but thankfully Geovanny Soto could not handle the ball.

Marmol's problems did not end there as he failed to locate the strike zone. A wild pitch enabled Gload to score from third and give the Phillies a lead. Marmol walked Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth before finally being removed for James Russell.

Raul Ibanez finished off the scoring with a RBI single of his own to make it 4-1. Brad Lidge wasn't going to let this one slip like Marmol, as he converted the save.

The comeback against the Cubs was just one of many late-inning rallies for the Phillies. Their never-say-die attitude showed that there was no reason to give up on them. There were many nail-biters, but there were also shocking comebacks like this one. It may not have been the prettiest win, but it was good enough for a 2010 top moment.

Other Top Moments

April 12: Phillies home opener. The Phillies had a five-run fifth inning, which included a Chase Utley home run. The Phillies beat the Washington Nationals, 7-4.

Ryan Howard extension: Howard's five-year, $125 million contract.

Year In Review: Danys Baez

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

When the Phillies signed Danys Baez to a two-year, $5.25 million contract, I thought that this was a decent deal. He had a few good years; a few not-so-good. He'd be taking over Chan Ho Park's role, how bad could it be? About a year later, I'm regretting those thoughts.

Before the season started, Baez was believed to be a reliable late-inning reliever. Especially with certain injuries to the bullpen, Baez was visioned as a seventh or eighth inning guy.

Baez struggled from the get-go. Unfortunately, Charlie Manuel kept him in the same role. Appearing in 51 games, Baez received many chances but he still failed to reach any sort of expectation. It wasn't until later in the season when Manuel decided that Baez pitched his way out of his job.

Every time Baez entered the game, I joked that the Phillies should just hand the opponents five runs. Sadly, that's basically what happened; Baez had an earned run average of 5.48 in 47.2 innings. The poor statistics do not end there. He averaged 1.64 walks and hits per innings pitched. He also allowed 10.4 hits and 4.3 walks per nine innings.

The only time Baez did not hurt the team was when he was sent to the disabled list with back-spasms in August. Even when he returned, he continued to struggle. Due to his unsatisfactory performance, Baez was left off the playoff roster.

It's tough to talk positively about the 2010 performance of Danys Baez. However, there were a few games in which he did get the job done, and he deserves credit for that. Also, I'd rather have Baez's contract rather than Brandon Lyons or Fernando Rodney's, who were other options last off season.

The Phillies hope that Baez will rebound next season. Don't expect him to strike a ton of people out, but he's a ground ball pitcher who has had some success in the past, being an All Star in 2005. He has one year left on his contract, so he'll get another chance. But if he continues to fail, those Philadelphia boos are not disappearing.

Mailbag: Main Focus? MVP?

In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.

What should be the Phillies main focus heading into free agency - bullpen, offense, or more starting pitching?

The Bullpen. The Phillies have Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge -- that's it. Danys Baez will return, but I'd rather keep the ball as far away from him as possible. Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras, and J.C Romero are all free agents. Durbin's average. Bringing him back at a decent price would be solid, but losing him isn't going to be the end of the world. Contreras had a good year, but he's old. J.C Romero is too erratic and probably will demand a lot of money.

After Madson and Lidge, there is nobody. Antonio Bastardo? He hasn't done a thing in the big leagues. Scott Matheison could be a possible option, but he's had trouble getting out big league hitters, and even if he does well he is not going to solve the bullpen issues.

The Phillies wrapped up the regular season yesterday, finishing 97-65. Who was the Phils regular season MVP?

Roy Halladay. Every five days is win day. He gave the Phillies a solid 250 innings. Complete Games. Shutouts. Perfect game. How can he not be the team MVP?

Second: Jayson Werth; Third: Ryan Howard.

Mailbag: Phillies/Giants Matchup

In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you to face the Giants (10 being most worried, 1 being least worried)?

I'd give it an 8. Comparing offenses, the Reds are superior to the Giants. However, when it comes to pitching, there is no argument; the Giants have one of the best staffs in the league. They led the majors with a 3.36 team ERA, .236 batting average against, and 1331 strikeouts.

Tim Lincecum had a "down year," but his 14 strikeouts/complete game shutout in the NLDS indicate what he is capable of. He'll remain a top pitchers for several years. It goes beyond Lincecum, though. Actually, Matt Cain was better, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. The pitching doesn't stop there. Jonathan Sanchez, another strikeout pitcher, had a 3.07 ERA this season. The Phillies arguably have the edge with a 1-2-3 punch of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, but the Giants are not too far behind.

The Phillies clearly put up the better offensive numbers. The Giants no longer have Barry Bonds, or anybody that puts up a huge power display, although they do have a good core of players that can hurt opposing pitchers. This year's Giants offense is much improved as opposed to the past few years. Pablo Sandoval didn't live up to his expectations this year, but he is always a threat. Aubrey Huff had a very good year. Rookie Buster Posey has yet to let anybody down. While the Giants may not have the best offensive numbers as a team, they do have guys then can cause some damage.

What one player do you fear the most?

Tim Lincecum is an obvious pick, but I'll go with Jonathan Sanchez who is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in nine career games against the Phillies. He has 40 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. As a whole, the Phillies have collected a batting average of .175 against Sanchez.

NLDS Preview: Phillies Offense

This is featured in part of Phillies Nation's NLDS Preview.

The Phillies have established themselves as an offensive ball club. The Phillies have become one of the league’s top powerhouses offensively. It might be surprising to hear that the Reds collected better offensive stats as a whole, however the Phillies were without several of their star players over the course of the year.

From the top of the order to the bottom, the offense is now completely healthy.The Phillies scored 772 runs this year, and batted .260 as a team. They only hit 166 home runs, which is 58 fewer than last year. The lack of home run production can be blamed on Ryan Howard, who hit an career-low 31 home runs this year. The power drop-off can also be a side effect of numerous injuries. Chase Utley hit half as many home runs as he averages, but he didn’t get near as many at-bats with his injury.

The Phillies have relied on small ball this year more than ever. Even without Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies still managed to have the best stolen base percentage in the majors (84%).

Johnny Cueto will start game three, and the Phillies have rocked him. Cueto has a 5.96 ERA in his career against the Phillies.

Ryan Howard has faired well in his career against the Reds. He has a 1.030 OPS against Cincy. Chase Utley has similar success. He has a 1.078 OPS in his career against the Reds. With the exceptions of Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz, none of the regulars had career years. Compared to their potential, most of them had down years. That says a lot, considering that the Phillies still managed to finish with one of the league’s top offenses.

Watch out for: Ryan Howard (.921 career postseason OPS), Carlos Ruiz (.400 OBP this year, .905 career postseason OPS).

Postseason Predictions:

Division Series

Phillies over Reds in 4
Giants over Braves in 5
Rangers over Rays in 4
Twins over Yankees in 5

Championship Series

Phillies over Giants in 6
Rangers over Twins in 7

World Series

Phillies over Rangers in 5

Mailbag: Reds Matchup/ Phillies MVP

In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.

The Phillies will face the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS starting on Wednesday. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most favorable to the Phillies, 1 being least favorable) how do you think the Phils match up with the Reds in the opening series?

6.5. I was really hoping that the Padres would win the Wild Card because I think that the Reds are the toughest road to the NLCS. I think the Phillies are the favorites, but I still think the Reds are a tough opponent.

Offensively, I think it's fairly even. As far as collective team stats go, the Reds gained the edge. However, the Phillies were without Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard at parts of the season. Now, they are all back. The Phillies win offensively now, but the Reds are no slouch. Joey Votto scares me.

Pitching-wise, the Phillies get the advantage. The Reds are going to face three aces. On the other hand, the Reds have Bronson Arroyo slated as number two. The Reds have some decent young arms, but they have yet to reach their peak.

Overall, I pick to win the Phillies, but it's not going to be an easy series. The Phillies may have took the season series, 5-2, including a 4-game sweep at home, but the Reds still played the Phillies tough. One of those 4 games featured a miracle late-inning comeback, and two were extra inning wins.

The Phillies wrapped up the regular season yesterday, finishing 97-65. Who was the Phils regular season MVP?

Roy Halladay. Every five days is win day. He gave the Phillies a solid 250 innings. Complete Games. Shutouts. Perfect game. How can he not be the team MVP?

Second: Jayson Werth; Third: Ryan Howard

NL East Champs... AGAIN

The Phillies are the National League Division Champions... AGAIN! No big deal. Been there, done that. It's another red October, and according to Roy Halladay, "it's only going to get funner."

Baseball Comes Second Today

Philadelphia Phillies (82-60) at New York Mets (69-72)

Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.86 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (13-9, 3.96 ERA)

"From the cradle of liberty, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Do we have closure? No. No, the heinous acts of terrorism last Tuesday will be with us for as long as we all shall live." -- Harry Kalas, 2001.

The Phillies are in the midst of a pennant race, but let's put baseball aside for a minute and remember those who lost their lives nine years ago. The tragedy on September 11, 2001 put America's pastimes on hold, but baseball eventually started the healing process.

The Phillies were one of the first teams to resume play, beating the Atlanta Braves 5-2. However, the most memorable moment from that game was a fan who carried an American Flag throughout Veterans Stadium. When the Mets returned to Shea Stadium, Mike Piazza's go-ahead home run gave everybody an unforgettable chill.

Here we are today: nine years later. The two teams meeting both helped the healing process in the United States. Today might not be about the matchups; it's about patriotism and pride for our country. We will never forget what happened on that horrible day, and we will never forget those who lost their lives.

Wolf To Face Former Club

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Milwaukee Brewers (62-73) at Philadelphia Phillies (78-58)

Randy Wolf (10-10, 4.76) vs. Kyle Kendrick (9-7, 4.72)

In Saturday's 5-4 victory, Roy Halladay surrendered four homers, but the Phillies offense rallied, en route to their fifth straight win. The Phillies become a scary team in September, and they're just a game back in the National League East.

Former Phillie Randy Wolf will take the mound for the Brew Crew, but don't expect a Wolf Pack reunion. This is Wolf's second appearance at Citizens Bank Park in an away jersey. Phillies fans know what Wolf brings to the table. Sometimes he can be on his "A" game; other times he can get rocked. That sounds very familiar to Wolf's counterpart, Kyle Kendrick.

The offense is starting to pick it up, especially Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard. Howard is always a scary hitter late in the season, thus taking the name Mr. September. Howard does not have good career numbers against Wolf, but the Phillies need Howard to continue to have his September push.

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

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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.

Olsen vs. Oswalt: Battle of the O's

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Washington Nationals (53-70) at Philadelphia Phillies (69-53)
Scott Olsen (3-5, 5.13 RA) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-13, 3.36 ERA)

Kyle Kendrick was rocked and Stephen Strasburg struck out six in the Nationals' 8-1 victory last night. The series is split at a game apiece, but this is a series that the Phillies need to win. Taking advantage of a last place team certainly helps in the standings. The Phillies have a good chance with Roy Oswalt on the mound.

Oswalt would like another chance against Washington. His first start as a Phillie was at Nationals Park, and he did not make the Phillies debut that he would have liked.

When he was a Marlin, Scott Olsen said that he "hates the Phillies." He must dispise facing them, since he has a 5.56 earned run average against them. Olsen has missed some time due to injuries this year, but he has really struggled in the month of August, posting an ERA near 11 in three starts.

The Nationals have not won back-to-back games at Citizens Bank Park since 2005. The Phillies would like to keep it that way, and boost their playoff chances.

Today's lineup:Rollins (SS), Ibanez (LF), Polanco (3B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Victorino (CF), Ruiz (C), Valdez (2B), Oswalt (P). Just a scheduled off day for Utley.

Strasburg Makes First Start vs. Phillies

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Washington Nationals (52-70) at Philadelphia Phillies (69-52)
Stephen Strasburg (5-2, 2.97 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (8-5, 4.45 ERA)

Roy Halladay hasn't received a whole lot of run support this year. The Phillies scored one run yesterday, but Halladay took care of the rest, blanking the Nationals over seven innings. When Halladay is on the mound, there is a good feeling that the Phillies win. On the other hand, when Kyle Kendrick pitches, it's always uncertain as to what type of performance he will have.

The Nationals will send out their young stud, Stephen Strasburg. If you haven't heard of this guy, you probably haven't paid any attention to baseball. The 22-year old was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, and his game can't get any more hyped. Strasburg throws a 100 mph fastball regularly, featuring a changeup at around 90 mph. You read that right: a 90 mph changeup. Regardless, his stuff is electric.

Tonight will be the very first time the Phillies will face Strasburg, but there will be many more meetings between the two. So far, Strasburg has made two starts since returning from the disabled list with a shoulder injury. The rookie has been under the spotlight in each and every one of his starts, but so far as yet to disappoint. He's the real deal.

Maybe Ryan Howard can greet Strasburg with a long ball. Howard returns from the disabled list tonight, which is earlier than what was originally expected.

Nationals Are Improved, But Phillies Should Still Win

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Washington Nationals (52-69) at Philadelphia Phillies (68-52)
Jason Marquis (0-5, 14.33 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (15-8, 2.24 ERA)

On paper, this is a series that the Phillies should win. After all, they are playing a last place team. The Phillies lead the Wild Card and trail the division by 2.5 games, but the Nationals aren't exactly playing for nothing. Yes, they are in last place, but compared to last year they have greatly improved. Who knows, after inking Bryce Harper to a multi-million dollar deal and having Stephen Strasburg at the top of the rotation, the Nationals could be a few years away from contending. But right now they are still bad. Not quite terrible, but still fairly bad. They are seven wins shy of matching last year's win total, and it's only the middle of August. They want to finish the year strong, and are now in spoiler mode.

Roy Halladay starts for the Phillies, and it's pretty well know what he can do on the hill. He is 6-1 with a 2.43 earned run average in his career against Washington. Halladay's opposition is Jason Marquis, who spent most of the season on the disabled list. He has struggled since returning. It doesn't help that he has a 5.51 ERA in his career against the Phillies.

Phillies Aim To Sweep Giants

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San Francisco Giants (67-54) at Philadelphia Phillies (68-51)
Jonathan Sanchez (8-8 3.60 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-9, 3.33 ERA)

Two days ago, the Philadelphia Phillies trailed the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card. Now, the Phillies are on the verge of sweeping them.

Too many times, Cole Hamels has fell a victim of lack of run support. Hamels is coming off an outing in which he only allowed one run, however the Phillies only managed one hit off R.A Dickey. It has been a reoccurring theme for Hamels. The Giants have a tremendous pitching staff, and have another solid starter today, but the Phillies have been tacking on runs throughout this series. Hamels hopes to get more run support so he can get a win for a change. He is in the midst of a hot streak, posting a 1.82 earned run average in his last five starts.

Sanchez has had a decent year for the Giants. Recently, he has had some trouble making it through six innings, but he still has good numbers for the year. He is a strikeout pitcher, but occasionally can get wild.

Kendrick, Pelfrey Finish Out Series

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Philadelphia Phillies (65-51) at New York Mets (58-58)
Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 4.60 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (11-6, 3.95 ERA)

Tonight, the Phillies and Mets wrap up a three-game series that is currently split at a game apiece. On Friday, Cole Hamels fell on the short end as R.A Dickey one-hit the Phillies. Roy Halladay was the stopper in last night's victory, shutting out the Mets in eight frames.

Kyle Kendrick has been all or nothing in most of his starts this year. He has either dominated, or been lit up. In six starts against New York, Kendrick has fared well posting an ERA of 3.34. It is never really certain on what Kendrick will do.

Kendrick will be opposed by Mike Pelfrey, who has had a solid year with the Mets. Against the Phillies, he has been very up and down. Sometimes the Phillies can pound him; other times he pounds the Phillies.

If the Mets end up getting into a save situation, Francisco Rodriguez would likely be asked to close. Today, K-Rod returns from his two-game suspension due to a third-degree assault. It would be nice if the Phillies could score many runs and avoid a potential K-Rod animated celebration.

Kershaw & Blanton Meet in Rubbermatch

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Los Angeles Dodgers (59-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (63-50)
Clayton Kerhsaw (10-7, 3.19 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.65 ERA)

Clayton Kershaw and Joe Blanton meet in the rubber-match. The Dodgers were all over the Phillies in the first game of the series, but they did not save any runs for the second game. The only question for tonight is whether or not the game will be played with pending storms in the forecast.

Looking at the starting matchup, the edge appears to go to the Dodgers. Kershaw has a respectable 3.19 ERA, while Blanton has an extremely high 5.65 ERA. However, Kershaw is facing a team that he has struggled against, and Blanton is facing a team that he has had success against. Kershaw is 0-3 with a 6.64 ERA against the Phillies; Blanton is 1-0 with a 2.88 ERA against the Dodgers. In addition, Blanton has been much improved during the second half of the season.

Shane Victorino will return off the disabled list, but Ben Francisco will play because Charlie Manuel promised that he'd start today. Antonio Bastardo was sent to Triple-A. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley both took batting practice today, but the Phillies are still without them. Even with missing studs in the lineup, the Phillies have still managed to go 15-4 in their last 19 games.

Santana & Hamels Face to Face

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New York Mets (54-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (61-48)
Johan Santana, LHP (8-6, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56 ERA)

A huge eighth inning rally helped lead the Phillies to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets last night. Tonight, the ball will be handed to Cole Hamels, who can hopefully go deep into tonight's game after a rocky bullpen performance yesterday. Hamels will be opposed by Johan Santana, who hasn't had quite the year many expected, although still having a solid season.

In his career against the Mets, Cole Hamels has lacked support from his offense, falling 2-5, despite having an ERA in the threes. On the other hand, Santana has gotten run support, posting a 4-2 record with an ERA above four in games against the Phillies.

Placido Polanco has the best numbers against Santana throughout his career. He has a .386 average with a home run. David Wright has the best numbers against Hamels, having a .345 average against him.

The Phillies look to continue their hot steak, both at home and on the road. Even though this team is plagued with injuries, the replacement players are doing their part to help the team win. Good teams need non-star players to step it up in key situations.

Winning Streak Stops at Eight

As seen on Phillies Nation.

All good things come to an end. The Phillies' eight game winning streak came to a halt as the Phillies fell 8-1 to the Washington Nationals. The loss came on a night where Roy Oswalt made his anticipated Phillies debut, but could not live up to the expectations.

The loss was Oswalt's 13th of the season, which leads the majors. Nyjer Morgan greeted him with a lead-off triple, and eventually scored. The Nationals did not look back. Oswalt did not get much help from his defense. Craig Stammen laid down a poor bunt. The Phillies should have been able to get the lead runner at third base, however nobody covered third as Carlos Ruiz's throw sailed into left field.

Oswalt lasted six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits, and two walks. He struck out four and hit two batters. Regardless, it was a very disappointing debut for Oswalt. However, don't call this trade a bust. Oswalt still remains as one of the top pitchers in the game; he just had a rough night. It happens to every pitcher.

The Phillies made Oswalt feel right at home with their lack of run support. Oswalt's offense averages 2.51 runs per game when he pitches. The Phillies lone run came on a home run from Jayson Werth. Stammen, who entered the game with an ERA over five, made hitters look silly. The Phillies couldn't do anything.

It's always tough to lose to a last place team, but the streak wasn't going to last forever. The Phillies could build a new streak tomorrow, but they have to focus on one game at a time.