The good Jamie Moyer showed up to pitch and the offense awoke from it’s slumber as the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves and took 2 of 3 in the series. Moyer threw 6 solid innings and allowed 2 runs (both unearned) to pick up the win. Offensively, Juan Castro led a balanced attack by going 3 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Carlos Ruiz and Greg Dobbs had 2 hits each for the Phillies. Here are a few thoughts on the game:
- The key to Moyer’s success was the same tonight as it always is when he is successful. He was keeping the ball down and getting calls just off the plate. When the umpire is cooperating, he doesn’t have to throw his 80 mph slop over the middle of the plate for hitters to crush. He can keep the ball off the barrel of the bat and let his defense work for him. That’s exactly what happened tonight.
- The game changed in the top of the 3rd inning with the bases loaded, one out and the Phillies up 2-0. Raul Ibanez grounded into what should have been a sure double play to end the inning, but Martin Prado sailed the throw to second and the Phils scored 2 runs on the play. They tacked on another unearned run later in the inning to take a comfortable 5-0 lead.
- In case you were wondering: No, I have no intention of mentioning Chase’s 2 errors tonight.
- Chad Durbin did a nice job in the 7th inning pitching with very little in the way of command. That’s why he’s a pitcher I trust this year. He loaded the bases, but with a 6 run lead he didn’t panic, made his pitches, and got out of the inning allowing just the one run.
- Now that we’re 15 games into the season, I feel like it’s safe to feel good about the improved approaches at the plate of all of the Phillies hitters this year. Chooch, especially, looks like a different hitter up there. The success he had at the end of last season appears to have carried over.
- The Phillies now move on to Arizona for a 3 game series with the Diamondbacks this weekend. Cole Hamels looks to continue the momentum from his solid start last time out against the Marlins.
