Chooch Comes Up Clutch

Also posted on Phillies Nation.

Hits with runners in scoring position and 1-2-3 saves have not been the Phillies specialty as of late. The Phillies got both in their 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Martin Prado killed the Phillies in a previous series in Atlanta. He continued the beating with a first inning solo home run against Joe Blanton. That was all Blanton allowed in seven innings. He gave up three hits, walked four, and struck out seven.

In the fourth, Chase Utley tied the game with his 29th homer of the season. Over 46% of the Phillies runs have come via long ball.

The Phillies had a golden opportunity in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and nobody out. Blanton didn't follow the "don't swing" policy and lined into a double play. Jimmy Rollins grounded out to end the threat. Luckily, an error and a timely hit put the Phillies ahead.

Raul Ibanez walked and Pedro Feliz successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt. However, Chipper Jones made a throwing error and everybody was safe. Carlos Ruiz's two-run double gave the Phillies the lead.

Ryan Madson has been struggling, giving up three earned runs, seven hits, and a walk in his last four innings. Matt Diaz was drilled and Prado singled to start the eighth inning. Chipper Jones' RBI single drove in a run, making it 3-2 with two on and nobody out. Jayson Werth made a strong throw to the plate, but it was a tad wide for Ruiz to make the tag. Charlie Manuel made the call to the bullpen to escape the jam.

Scott Eyre, who hadn't pitched since August 16, was called upon. Eyre got Brian McCann to ground into the unconventional 4-6-5 double play. Chase Utley made a fantastic pick, and flipped to Rollins. Heads up, Rollins fired to third. Feliz and Prado got into a pickle, which Feliz won. A triple play was almost turned after McCann was a little too far away from the first base bag.

Garrett Anderson grounded out, and Eyre left the mound with a nice first pump. Brad Lidge would do the same. After two quick fly outs, Greg Norton went around on Lidge's nasty slider to end the game.

The Phillies took the rubber match game of the series and extend their divisional lead to eight games. Their magic number decreases to 26.

The Power of Chipper Jones' Bat

Troubled, Young James found himself on the right side of the bench, thinking. His coach looked over at him. "Poor young chap, he can't do anything right these days." Young James had lost something very important.

It was custom made, the perfect fit for Young James. It was the most beautiful wooden creation ever made: his baseball bat.

Young James wandered onto the enormous field for practice. He encountered with a man. He was named "Larry" but all the boys called him Chipper. "I heard you lost your stick," Chipper said in a somewhat cocky tone.

"Yes, yes," Young James replied. "Would you happen to have any extras."

"Lots, but I do not normally lend them to anybody. Not even family."

Young James begged from his knees. "Please, lend me your stick."

"Okay, fine," Chipper agreed. He pulled it out of the batting rack like it was a sword. "It's our little secret. Don't tell anybody. Take care of it now, ya hear?"

Young James eyes widened as the bat's golden tint glowed. Speechless, Young James nodded his head and smiled.

So, Young James went up to the plate for the first time in four days. He peeked at Chipper down the third base line. He prayed it would work. He ended up grounding out sharply. "You piece of (expletive)!" Young James said as he chucked the bat across the dugout.

Only it wasn't. Without realizing it, when Young James swung, powers transferred from the bat into his hands. He could not feel it. Lightning bolts struck from the heavens above. It was just like when the spider bit Spiderman. He was morphed into a machine.

In his next at-bat Young James found a stick lying around and decided to use it. Was it Chase Utley's? Maybe. It didn't matter to Young James.

Then, the power of Chipper's bat took effect. Young James got a hit. And then another. Before he knew it, he was batting 7-for-his-last-15, an unbelievable .467 average. He even had a home run off one of the best pitchers in the game. That hadn't happened in months!

Young James was shocked. He thought the bat laying on the dugout steps was the one he lost. Maybe he found his groove. But what he does not know is that it is the power of Chipper Jones' bat.

Although based on true facts, this did not actually happen.

Runners Left On Base: A Phillies Tradition

The Atlanta Braves beat the Phillies 4-0, their second straight loss to start the season.

Kelly Johnson led off the game with a solo home run off Jamie Moyer. Chipper Jones later scored on an error by Chase Utley giving the Braves an early 2-0 lead.

Johnson later hit an RBI single and Jones eventually hit a solo home run of his own. The Braves had a total of five home runs this series, each by different players.

Moyer lasted five innings allowing the four earned runs on eight hits and two walks. The umpire wasn't giving him much of the corners, and he struck out just two.

The story once again was the Phillies offense, which was silenced by Jair Jurrjens, who pitched 5.2 scoreless innings. Charlie Manuel even changed the order of the lineup, moving Victorino second and splitting up the lefties with Jayson Werth, but to no avail.

The Phillies were able to manage seven baserunners, four hits and three walks, but were not able to get any runs in. The Phillies left 11 men on base, and in many innings with two outs.

The Phillies bullpen was superb once again, but so was the Braves. Unlike Sunday, the Phillies were unable to spark up a rally in the ninth and went down 1-2-3, putting the loss in the books.

Lowe Signs with Braves

Chipper Jones wasn't a happy camper when the Braves didn't do anything about "Smoltzy", letting him sign with the Boston Red Sox. Despite the loss of John Smoltz, Chipper has cooled down a little bit now that the Braves signed Derek Lowe.

Weeks after turning down an offer from the New York Mets, Lowe signed with their division rivals, the Atlanta Braves. The deal is 4 years worth $60 million.

Lowe, 35, spent the last 4 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last season, Lowe was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA. Lowe also spent time with the Boston Red Sox, where he won a World Series.

In his career, Lowe, a ground ball pitcher, is 126-107 with a 3.75 ERA and a.27 WHIP. In the postseason, Lowe is 5-5 with a 3.33 ERA in 21 games.

Chip Off The 'ol Block

Chipper Jones spoke to The Sporting News and had a few words about the National League East.

"From a Mets standpoint, they've had a running feud with the Phillies the
past couple of years. It's kind of weird not to be in it.

We won for 14 consecutive years, and you never, ever saw any bulletin board
material. And now that these two teams are on top of the division, they can't
keep their mouths shut. Just go play baseball. It's Cole Hamels now. It was
Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Beltran the past couple of springs. These two teams are
constantly going at each other verbally. You know, win with class, lose with
class. Just keep your mouth shut and go play your game."

Did he just trash talk trash talking? The heat in the east continues to flare up between all the teams within the division. When somebody speaks in the division, there is usually an answer. Will somebody respond to Jones? It definitely adds talk.