Phillies Break Exhibition Losing String
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Perhaps the Phillies got their 4-10 start out of their systems this year in spring training and will be ready to charge out of the box with the start of the regular season. They suffered through a horrendous 8 game in 9 day losing streak before knocking off the Cincinnati Reds, behind Jamie Moyer’s 5 innings, on Thursday by a score of 10-7.
Lefthander Moyer had a shakey 3rd inning after getting through the 1st and 2nd innings unscathed. But then he recovered to shut down the Reds in the 4th and 5th innings.
A couple of prospects showed big and accounted for most of the run production in this game for the Phils. 2nd baseman Casey Smith smacked his 2nd homer of the exhibition season, singled and drove in four runs while hitting 9th. The eighth hitter, Greg Golson, doubled and singled and driving in two.
Phillie hitters jumped on Reds starter lefthander Jeremy Affeldt for 7 runs in his 3 1/3 innings of work as the Phils built 5-0 and 8-4 leads.
Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell didn’t play on Thursday.
A little good news from the bullpen, Tom Gordon tossed a hitless, runless 8th inning striking out one. But, as the title to that old movie goes, “once is not enough.”
So far, the Phils rotation looks like Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Moyer
and Kyle Kendrick, with Kris Benson, recovering from rotator cuff surgery, battling Chad Durbin for the 5th starter slot with Ryan Madson available for spot starts along with middle relief. Starters Kendrick, JD Durbin, Adam Eaton and Travis Blackley as well as reliever Gordon have all been pounded annd the offense has looked listless during the Phils losing string.
Meanwhile, the recovery prognosis for starter Kris Benson and closer Brad Lidge continues to improve. Benson tossed 58 pitches and gave up two runs in a minor league game on Thursday while Lidge threw 25 to 30 pitches on Wednesday showing impressive velocity and pitch command.
Yahoo sports notes about Lidge;
The biggest thing holding Lidge back is fielding; he is still working on building lateral strength in the knee.
Last season’s ace lefthander Cole Hamels gave up two hits and struck out six in a minor league game after missing his originally scheduled start due to a bout with the flue.
The Phillies next play the Atlanta Braves on Friday and the Minnesota Twins on Saturday as baseball moves closer and closer to opening day.
Related Blog Posts;
Orioles Lose Kris Benson to Rotator Cuff injury; Sign Trachsel to Replace
Phillies Acquire Lidge in Trade, Bourn to Astros
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