Phillies Lose, Phillies Win, Home Runs Abound

Today, as sometimes happens in spring training, the Phillies played two games.

Half of the team lost 12-3 to the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. As far as I can tell the only awesome thing that happened was Michael Young and Freddy Galvis both hitting  home runs.  Kyle Kendrick allowed four runs and four hits over two innings. That is less than awesome.

Back at the Phillies’ home-away-from-home, Bright House Networks Field, the team’s fortune was the opposite.   The good guys beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-5 in a game that saw home runs from Domonic Brown and Ryan Howard.  Howard’s three run blast in the fifth inning put the Phillies ahead 6-4.  In nine games this spring, he has hit three home runs and driven in ten runs.   Today’s home run literally went over two fences—the one that sits directly behind right field and the one that runs alongside the outside of the entire stadium. So, yeah, Ryan Howard is hitting baseballs very far right now.

Side of Mashed Taters (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Last year he missed the entirety of spring training and half of the regular season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon injury that he famously suffered the season before.   It is hard not to get excited about what he may be this season with the spring he has had thus far.   I know it is some 20 at-bats, but I don’t care, sometimes it is more fun being irrational.

Brown’s home run off of left hander Aaron Loup was also his third of the spring.  Getting overly excited about him is fun as well. Everyone should try it.

Tomorrow the Phillies take on the Pittsburgh Pirates tomorrow at 1:05.  John Lannan is pitching.  Here is to hoping that Howard hits another home run.