» Moyer Pitches, Hits as Phillies Roll Over D’backs

Moyer Pitches, Hits as Phillies Roll Over D’backs

Phillies veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer threw seven fine innings, giving up only 2 runs while spreading 6 hits but that was by no means the whole story. He had 2 hits, one of them a run scoring double to cap a 4 run third inning as the Phils pounded rookie Max Scherzer and the Arizona Diamondbacks by an 11-4 score.

Scherzer, with his 98 mph fastball, was rocked in his starting debut
as the Phils scored a single run in the first inning on 1st baseman Ryan Howard’s sacrifice fly RBI and scored 4 more in the third as the Phils sent 9 men to the plate including Moyer who doubled in the 4th run of the inning. Having thrown 92 pitches in 4 innings, Scherzer, who was charged with the loss, was replaced by Edgar Gonzalez to open the fifth inning.

Having held the Phillies in check in the fifth and sixth innings, Gonzalez was pounded for 4 runs on 4 hits in the seventh as the Phils widened their lead to 9-1.

Meanwhile, when the Phils took an early 1-0 lead, the D’backs temporarily tied the score at 1-1 in the second inning on shortstop Stephen Drew’s RBI triple in the second. 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz saved the Phillies from further damage in the second with a great fielding play on a sharp grounder down the line by catcher Chris Snyder preceding Drew’s triple. But from there, Moyer kept Arizona off-balance through seven innings, retiring 10 straight at one point between the second and fifth innings.

AP sportswriter Andrew Bagnato recorded Scherzer’s observations about Moyer for Yahoo sports;

Scherzer (0-1) talked as if he had received a pitching tutorial from Moyer.

“He rope-a-dopes you to death,” Scherzer said. “I know firsthand, he throws a 74 mile-an-hour change, then backs it up with a 71 mile-an-hour change. He’s cutting it to both sides of the plate at 81 or 82, and his fastball’s about the same velocity, but he knows how to pitch. Been doing it a while.”

In the fourth, he struck out Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds looking on 81 mph fastballs, and they shook their heads as they walked back to the dugout.

In the seventh inning, the D’backs scored their 2nd run as catcher Chris Snyder belted a 2 out solo shot to leftfield off of Moyer who won his 2nd game vs 2 losses and who struck out 5 while not issuing any walks.

Reliever Ryan Madson replaced Moyer to open the eioghth and held the Diamondbacks in check.

The Phillies added single runs in the eighth, on pinch hitter Greg Dobbs’ RBI sacrifice fly to center, and in the ninth inning on a D’backs fielding error.

Things got a bit dicey for the Phillies in the ninth as Clay Condrey replaced Madson to open the inning. Condrey gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and was stuck with a bases loaded, one out pickle which could have ended much worse. One run scored on a fielding error by rightfielder Geoff Jenkins and the 2nd run scored on a bases loaded ground out. Condrey got centerfielder Chris Young to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

In addition to Moyer’s 2 hits, Jenkins and catcher Carlos Ruiz had 3 hits each, Howard had 2 RBIs and shortstop Eric Bruntlett, standing in for Jimmy Rollins, had 2 hits and 3 RBIs for the game.

Speaking of Rollins, MLB.com’s Ken Mandel reports that he went 4-4 in his first rehab minor start. Mandel notes that Rollins hopes for a possible return for Thursday’s game against Arizona. However Mandel also notes that manager Charlie Manuel is more cautious;

“We could see him this weekend,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “It’s very possible. We need him. He’s a big part of our team, but we want him healthy. I don’t want to put him in there one day and then all of a sudden he’s hurt again.”

For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Monday’s games, click here.

Adam Eaton opposes lefthander Randy “Big Unit” Johnson in Tuesday’s game 2. In game 3, Kyle Kendrick is opposed by the hitting phenom Micha Owings. And in Thursday’s get-away game, Brett Myers opposes unbeaten Brandon Webb (7-0). Following Arizona, the Phils travel to San Francisco for a 3 game weekend series with the Giants followed by an open date on Monday, May 12.