Oswalt Outduels Kendrick, Astros Edge Phillies
|
|
|
|
|
Roy Oswalt, ace of Houston’s shakey and inexperienced starting rotation, bettered Kyle Kendrick in a classic pitching duel as the Astros squeeked by the Phillies by a 2-1 score on Wednesday night.
Both teams scored in the first inning. Houston scored its run on leftfielder Carlos Lee’s two out RBI double which scored centerfielder Michael Bourn who led off with an infield single.
The Phillies followed suit as centerfielder Jayson Werth led off with a single to centerfield. After 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz grounded out, with Werth advancing to 2nd base, and after 2nd baseman Chase Utley took Oswalt to deep center for the second out, 1st baseman Ryan Howard singled to center to score Werth. The Phils could have gotten to Oswalt for more in the 1st. Leftfielder Pat Burrell, in the midst of a torrid hitting streak, laced an infield single to place runners at 1st and 2nd base. But rightfielder Geoff Jenkins grounded out to end the inning.
From there, both pitchers found a groove and threw up zeros, although both teams threatened with two out in the third inning. The Phillies offense snoozed for the remainder of the game as Oswalt picked up momentum.
With two out in the fifth inning, Bourn, who had been traded by the Phils to the Astros with two other players for closer Brad Lidge during the off-season, went yard on Kendrick for his second homer of the season and Houston led 2-1.
Both pitchers were lifted for pinch hitters after going seven innings.
Oswalt tossed 92 pitches, 65 of them for strikes while givimg up 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4.
AP Sports writer Rob Maaddi notes for Yahoo sports;
Oswalt was back to his old self, mixing in nasty off-speed pitches with a sharp fastball.
“He was vintage Roy,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. “He kept the ball down, had a nice breaking ball and his fastball was crisp. He pitched real well.”
Oswalt (1-3) finally looked like a three-time All-Star instead of the worst pitcher in the NL.
“Hopefully I turned it around,” Oswalt said. “I felt better. I wasn’t overthrowing. I feel when I have my curveball, I should be able to get to the eighth or ninth inning.”
Kyle Kendrick tossed 96 pitches, 68 of them for stikes in giving up 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5.
Phillies Nation’s Tim Malcolm sums up Kendrick’s fine performance;
They wasted a great outing by Kyle Kendrick, who finally looked like his 2007 self. He threw 96 pitches, getting 10 ground outs and five strikeouts. He surrendered two runs and four hits, lowering his ERA to a respectable 4.40.
It’s sad — the Phillies are getting great pitching and the offense is laying eggs. Nobody was being patient. Part of it was Oswalt, who found his curveball and relied on it a lot; part of it was due to having notorious early-count hitters in the lineup.
AP’s Maaddi adds;
Kendrick lasted a total of 7 1-3 innings in his first two starts, but resembled the pitcher who came from nowhere—actually, Double-A—and won 10 games last season to help the Phillies win the NL East.
“He was more aggressive,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “His command was good, good location with his sinker. He showed last year that he’s durable. I have confidence in him.”
The game was basically over when the two starters left as both bullpens blanked the opposition for the final two innings.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
Brett Myers, off of his fine 8 inning efort against Chicago, opposes Brandon Backe in Thursday’s get-away game as the Phils hope to get back to the .500 mark.
Meanwhile, the Phillies continue to play without last season’s MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the lineup due to his sprained ankle. Reports are that Rollins is out until at least Saturday. MLB.com’s Ken Mandel reports;
Wednesday’s decision was painfully easy for manager Charlie Manuel, who begrudgingly filled out his seventh straight lineup card without Rollins’ name. Seeing the reigning NL MVP hobble down the first-base line after pinch-hitting was enough.
“When you’re going full speed and that little pain kicks in, it buckles you,” said Rollins, who said he felt fine until swinging during that at-bat. “After I swung, I stumbled and I don’t know if it just gave out or it was because I fouled it off. Your balance is off.”
Rollins has already been ruled out until Saturday, at the earliest. He will leave the team for the next two days to fly to Oakland to attend a funeral for an uncle. He’ll return on a Friday red-eye.
Beginning Friday, the Phils entertain the New York Mets for three games. In Friday’s opener, an epic battle of lefthanders, Cole Hamels with his 2-1 record and 0.82 ERA faces arguably the best pitcher in baseball in Johan Santana (1-2, 3.05 ERA). On Saturday, two more lefties lock-up as Jamie Moyer opposes Oliver Perez. In Sunday’s final, Adam Eaton is opposed by Mike Pelfrey.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |