Phillies vs. Angels: What you should know about the series

I apologize for missing the Atlanta series, but what an incredible four games. The Phillies hit the ball, pitched it well, and played what seems like their best baseball of the season. Now, they enter a difficult West Coast swing that opens in Anaheim, California. If they can continue to play winning baseball, perhaps they will catch the attention of the city that has cast them off as misfits.

I am truly convinced that Jose Altuve is superhuman. Good luck convincing me otherwise. Not only did Altuve just miss hitting .500 for the entire month of July, he simply dominated the series against the Phillies. He was 7-12 with a walk, three RBI, four runs, and four extra basehits. The Phils were able to strike him out twice, which seems like a slight miracle. I am glad he does not come to town very often.

Phils Grade: F

Mike Fiers seems to be the pitcher who awoke the Phillies bats from their collective slumbers. While the Phillies could not hit Houston starters in the first two games, they had much more luck with Fiers. Phils hitting knocked the right-hander out of the game after four short innings. He allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. Oddly enough, he struck out seven in his four innings, but could not overcome his 102 pitches. The Phils would take the game 9-0 and salvage the series.

Phils Grade: D