Howard, Moyer Lead Phillies Past Braves
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Phillies starter Pedro Martinez threw 1 hit, 1 walk ball through 2 innings on Friday and 1st baseman Ryan Howard slammed a hole through the rain-drops for a 2nd inning lead off solo homer off of Atlanta starter Tom Hanson before the game was delayed for over 1 3/4 hours with the Phils up by 1-0. When the rains subsided, Martinez was replaced by the emerging rain-delay specialist veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer. Howard belted a 2nd homer, a 2 run shot off of reliever Kris Medlen in the fourth. Moyer coughed up a run on 4 hits in 4 1/3 innings and Chan Ho Park finished out the seventh inning as the Phils held a 3-1 lead. The Phillies scored an insurance run in their seventh inning and reliever Ryan Madson gave up a run on a fielder’s choice before getting into a 2 out bases loaded jam in the eighth and escaping with a flyout. Closer Brad Lidge came on in the ninth making short work of the Braves as Howard and Moyer led the Phillies past the Braves by a 4-2 score in the series opener.
With the win, the Phils upped their NL East Division lead to 8 games over both the Braves as well as the Florida Marlins, who lost on Friday to San Diego. The Braves and Marlins are tied for 2nd place. The Mets, who were pounded by the Chicago Cubs, dropped to 17 1/2 games back in 4th place.
A couple of interesting phenomena have begun to emerge with this game.
For the second straight time a Pedro Martinez start was rain-shortened with the Phillies’ Mr. Father-Time Jamie Moyer spelling him successfully after the delay to earn a win. This time, Moyer gave threw 61 pitches in 4 1/3 innings while striking out 5. Further, Moyer has shaved .35 off of his ERA in 10 1/3 innings of 1 run ball through the 2 games. In the 2 rain-delay-induced appearances, Moyer has yet to walk a hitter or give up a homer.
The AP recap of the game reported the 2nd phenomenon; that closer Brad Lidge arrived at Citizens’ Bank Park sporting a new ‘doo:
Lidge arrived… with a “military” style haircut, a developing trend among the relievers, and said he hoped it would change his fortunes.
“Nothing like a fresh haircut to get you on a good run and hopefully bring you luck,” Lidge said. “I haven’t been thrilled with the way my season has gone, but the great thing is we have such a good team where we’re in first place. The consistency hasn’t been there. We all know we have to be at our best by the time the playoffs roll around. I feel like I’m very close.”
Let’s see if the ‘doo works. On Friday, it was Lidge 12 pitches; 2 ground balls, a strikeout and game over.
Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr recaps the game from after the rain delay:
Rain continued to fall throughout the evening, but not enough to pause play. Out of the bullpen, Moyer did his job. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one run on Matt Diaz’s RBI double. He gave up four hits and struck out five…
Howard (3-for-3) homered again, his 37th of the year. This time it was a two-run shot to center field. Pedro Feliz added a RBI bloop single in the seventh inning. With a 4-1 lead, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge would have to close it out.
Ryan Madson got into a jam. He surrendered one run after allowing three hits and a walk. Adam LaRoche flied out for the final out of the inning, and the birthday boy escaped the bases loaded threat. There was only hope that Lidge would not blow his Major League leading tenth blown save.
With two quick outs, Lidge fell behind 2-0 to Diaz. He came back firing. Diaz chased the 2-2 slider, ending the game. Lidge secured his 26th save of the year. The win over the Braves extended the Phillies lead in the division to eight games.
Braves starter Hanson, who pitched 2 innings before the rains came giving up a run on 2 hits while striking out 4, was charged with the loss. He, like Martinez, was pulled when play resumed as 4 relievers finished out the game for the Braves with Medlen giving up Howard’s 2 run fourth inning shot with 2nd baseman Chase Utley aboard. The 4th Phillies run scored off of Peter Moylan in the seventh as 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz singled driving in leftfielder Raul Ibanez who led off the inning with a triple to deep centerfield.
For the scores of all of Friday’s games, click here.
On Saturday, the Phils look to go 2-up in the series as ace lefthander Cliff Lee hopes to continue his undefeated string since joining the Phils. Lee is opposed by Derek Lowe who has been pounded in his last 2 outings.
For all of Saturday’s games, click here.
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