Bronson is a Stupid First Name

There was some concern that the hiccup in the Phillies schedule would throw the team off of its collective schedules sending the pitchers reeling and the offense scuffling.  Thus far, the starting pitchers have allowed one earned run in fifteen innings this series and the offense sprang to life tonight taking advantage of Bronson Arroyo smashing him for six runs on eight hits.  The offense looked fine tonight as the pitching staff made the Reds look  bad for the second consecutive night.  So much for the Phillies not playing well.

Roy Halladay is really good.  In his first full start in quite some time, Halladay gave up two hits and struck out nine Reds.  He walked two batters creating a furious display of angry stares and gritty determination.  What else can be said about Roy Halladay?  Again, he is really good.

Bronson Arroyo on the other hand, is getting the shit kicked out of him this season.  After tonight, Arroyo’s ERA ballooned to 5.13.  He has always been a pitcher who survived on guile rather than stuff and it seems that he can not trick batters into swinging at crap this season.  Ryan Howard hit a two run home run off of him in the fourth inning and that would have been enough for Halladay.  Halladay added a bases loaded double in the sixth to put the game out of reach.  Maybe Bronson should put his hair in corn rows again….then again maybe he should just retire.

Ryan Howard was the offensive star of the game adding a solo home run in the ninth in addition to his two run blast in the fourth.  Hunter Pence went 2-5 with a home run and Raul Ibanez made his return to the line-up going 3-5 with a two run home run.  Every member of the offense except the left side of the infield (Wilson Valdez and Placido Polanco were a combined 0-9) registered a hit.  9-0 shutout win for the Phils tonight.

Tomorrow Cliff Lee looks to put an exclamation on his fantastic August against Dontrelle Willis.