Phils Pound Out Twenty Hits in 14-1 Blowout

When John Mayberry Jr. and Michael Martinez go 7-10 there is a very real chance that the Phillies just pounded the ever living shit out of another baseball team.  Today, the much maligned Phillies offense kicked Derek Lowe and the Atlanta Braves directly in their collective balls.

After yesterday’s offensive struggles, it was nice to watch the Phils take advantage of Lowe not being the pitcher that Tommy Hanson is.  The offense tagged Lowe and a collection of the Braves b-team relievers for twenty hits (not a typo) and fourteen runs.  Every position player in the line up had at least one hit and every hitter but Carlos Ruiz had at least two hits.  Michael Maritez had a career high four hits, John Mayberry Jr. had three hits and four RBI and Raul Ibanez had six RBI.

The offense may have been the story of the game, but the guy pitching today was pretty damn impressive as well.  After today, Cole Hamels upped his record to 11-4 and lowered his ERA to 2.32.  He is one of three Cy Young contenders currently wearing red pinstripes.  There has never been a pitching staff like this in Philadelphia……ever.  Cole went eight innings allowing three hits and one run.  This is really fun to watch.

The Brave bullpen looks a little different when Freddie Gonzalez does not send Venters or O’Flaherty into the game.  If Venters tires (based on how much the left hander has been used, this is a foregone conclusion), the Braves are going to be in big trouble.  The combination of Cory Gearrin and John Proctor combined to throw two innings while allowing ten hits and ten earned runs.  That is not good.  Venters has appeared in a league high fifty one games.

The Phillies took two of three from the second best team in baseball with a bunch of players injured.  Good times.  This was a fine way to go into the all star break.  Here’s to hoping that a few games off can fix the backs of Oswalt and Polanco and the forearm of Jose Contreras.