Phillies Gaining Momentum for Season Opener
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For those who took a snooze when the Phillies record reached 5-12-1 in spring exhibition play, they’re waking up to find the red pin-stripers on a modest 3 game winning string.
During spring training, the old Lombardi adage; “Winning isn’t everything, its the ONLY thing,” doesn’t necessarily apply when evaluating talent before the start of the season. The important things are the signs and building momentum towards opening day. There are plenty of positive signs and, hopefully, the momentum will be there.
On Saturday, even though the Phils got blasted 11-2 by Minnesota, Adam Eaton, who is battling for the 5th starter spot, turned in his first decent outing of the spring pitching 3 shut out innings while giving up 5 hits. Unfortunately, J.D. Durbin, Fabio Castro and prospect reliever Gary Knotts were all pounded hard and wasted Ryan Howard’s 4th homer of the spring.
On Sunday, the Phils came out hitterish, Brett Myers was excellent over 7 innings appearing in mid-season form and Ryan Madson put together another fine inning of relief with Travis Blackley closing it out as the Phils beat Cincinnati convincingly by a 6-2 score.
On Monday, Chad Durbin kept himself in the battle for 5th starter by pitching 4 1/3 fine innings, giving up a 2 run homer and then getting a double play to end the 5th inning as the Phils’ bats continued to ring, especially with a 5 run outburst in the 2nd inning. The Phils kept their hitting shoes on as shortstop Jimmy Rollins, centerfielder Shane Victorino and 2nd baseman Chase Utley had 2 hits apiece and catcher Carlos Ruiz, who is having a scorching spring, got 3 hits in a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. Relievers Clay Condrey, J.C. Romero and prospect Vic Darensbourg were excellent in one inning stints while Tom Gordon gave up a 9th inning homer in recording his 1st exhibition save.
On Tuesday, the Phils got just enough offense, 4 runs on 4 hits, and Cole Hamels had his best performance of the spring pitching 6 innings of 1 run, 2 hit ball while striking out 7 as the Phillies nipped the Tampa Bay Rays by a 4-2 score. Fabio Castro gave up the other run on a hit and two walks. Knotts and Madson each had perfect innings to seal the win.
Check out Phillies Nation for running stats on all of the Phillies during spring training.
The Phils face the Rays again with veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer on the mound on Wednesday.
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