First Game of the Double Header a Success

The first game of the day and night double header against the Washington Nationals was a huge success for Brett Myers. Myers pitched well, only allowing two runs over 7 innings of work, and 5 hits overall. The hitters gave him good run support also scoring 8 runs in the game to back Myers.

The story of the game was Raul Ibanez. Ibanez hit two towering homeruns by the 3rd inning, and finished with 3 hits in a 3-5 effort. Ibanez ended up batting in four of the Phillies 8 runs.

Also, the bullpen continued to let up runs when Ryan Madson came in in the 8th. The score when he came in was 8-2, and when he left it was 8-5. Madson ended up giving up 3 runs on 4 hits.

Skipper Charlie Manuel said the night before that even though closer Brad Lidge blew yet another save last night, that he would send him out there the next opportunity he got. Well, Charlie proved true to his word, as he sent Lidge out to close the game the very next day.

What looked to be turning into a close game, ended the second that Lidge came in. After giving up a hit to Willie Harris, Lidge settled in to shut out the Nats to earn the save.

Another storyline in the game was the Phillies coming out of their recent batting slump. Over the last 8 games, the Phils only scored 23 runs. Do not let the numbers fool you, that is only an average of about less than 3 runs per game.

After the first two games of the Nats series the Phils have scored 18 runs and counting. That is an average of 9 runs over two games! Besides Ibanez, Jayson Werth came out of his recent slump with a booming blast in the 2nd inning to increase the Phils lead to 2-0 after the 2nd inning. Also, Jimmy Rollins brought a runner in while recording two hits himself. Victorino also batted a runner in. The scoring for the Phils is as follows: Ibanez, 4 RBI’s, Werth, 2 RBI’s, Rollins, 1 RBI, and Victorino, 1 RBI.

Overall, this win was a good one. It allowed the Phils to get a confidence boost, while also giving them a chance to get their hitting and pitching back on track. With the Phillies trying to get themselves back atop the NL East Division, they will need every bit of hitting and pitching that they got today.