Phillies vs. Cubs

Game 1: Another wasted performance from the starter. Jamie Moyer was spectacular. He went 7 innings, striking out 7, walking none, and giving up 2 ER. Those two earned runs probably could have been prevented. They were both deflected off the glove of Polanco and ended up in left field. The Phils lone run came in the 8th inning via an RBI groundout off the bat of Howard. Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless 8th and went out for the 9th. He allowed the first 2 batters to reach, then struck out Aramis Ramirez. He was finally pulled after walking Soriano to load the bases. Romero struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a 2-run single. The Phillies made it interesting in the bottom of the 9th. They got to 2 guys on with Victorino up as the tying run, unfortunately he struck out swinging to end the game. It's only 2 games but I hate seeing the Phillies offense not score runs when they get such great starting performances. The last two opposing starting pitchers have been left-handed so I don't know if that's coincidence or if the Phillies just don't hit lefties well. Cubbies 4-1

Game 2: Joe Blanton got the start for this afternoon game and was solid but efficient is the best way to describe it. He went 7 innings on 71 (!) pitches. He allowed 3 ER on 5 hits. He struck out 3 and walked 1. The offense got started early when Chase Utley hit a solo homerun in the first inning. After the Cubs tied it at 1-1. Jimmy Rollins came back in the 6th inning to give the Phils a 4-1 lead after hitting a 3-run homerun on a 3-0 count. Joe Blanton gave 2 back in the 7th inning. Antonio Bastardo gave up a solo homerun in the 8th that tied that game at 4. Raul Ibanez hit an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning and it was left up to Jose Contreras to save the game. IT WAS SCARY. He had 1st and 3rd with no outs. What followed, saved my heart: strikeout, strikeout, and a pop up. It's been too long since the Phillies won. Phils 5-4

Golden Girls Quote of the Day:
[Blanche, speaking about an autograph of Arnold Schwarzenegger]
Rose: Did he sign your book?
Blanche: Yes. But only after he refused to sign my thigh.
Dorothy: He was probably intimidated to see a thigh bigger than his.