Phillies vs. Nationals

Game 1: Opening Day at Citizen's Bank Park! It's been way too long since a game's been played there. Cole Hamels took the the hill for the Phillies and once again he was adequate (5.2 IP, 3 runs) which is not exactly what you want from your no.2. He would have pitched 6 innings if not for a Juan Castro error. On that note, Jimmy Rollins strained his calf during pregame warm-ups; it was serious enough that it landed him on the DL. Thankfully the offense once again came through by putting up a 5 spot in the fifth. Everyone was hitting and Chase Utley was once again the igniter or finisher, actually. Ryan Madson got the save to cap off another fabulous outing by the bullpen. Phils 7-4

Game 2: Kyle Kendrick. What can I say? After pitching only 1.2 innings and giving up 6 runs on 6 hits and 3 BB, he called his outing "brutal." I think he was giving himself way too much credit. After giving up 3 runs in the first, the offense scored 4 in the bottom half. Kyle Kendrick once again gave up the lead by allowing 3 runs in the second, and the Phillies matched it on the strength of a Chase Utley 3-run homerun. The bullpen was great in keeping the game at where it was with the lone exception of 1 run in the third. That would be it for the Nats offense as the Phils offense went to work; Chase Utley would hit another homerun, as would Shane Victorino. Kyle Kendrick needs to go! He just keeps pitching scared and nothing is more infuriating then seeing walks, hit batsmen, and than a big hit. KK is yucky. Phils 14-7

Game 3: The Phillies handed the ball to J.A. Happ to complete the sweep of the Nationals. He seemed to struggle a bit with his command and had thrown 97 pitches in his 5.1 innings. What I enjoy about Happ is that while he struggles, he has a way of always getting himself out of trouble and keeping in the Phillies in it. He allowed one UNearned run due to a Ryan Howard throwing error. He also did not get down a good bunt after a Chooch leadoff double. Also, Danis Baez was pretty awful. After the Phils took a 4-1 lead, Baez gave up two homeruns to Dunn and Zimmerman that would give the Nats a permanent lead. The Phillies didn't score again until the 9th when Shane Victorino hit a solo homerun. It became relevant since Ryan Madson gave up two runs in the top half of the 9th. The Phillies seemed to have this game won and cost themselves the victory. If they do the little things right, they sweep the series but once again the Nats won the last game. Boo. Nats 7-5
Also this was the ring ceremony game; I don't know about anybody else but it left an empty feeling. Making the WS is a great accomplishment but these rings just scream second place and that's not good enough for me or for the team. I want to the big P on them damn it!

Golden Girls Quote of the Day:
Sophia: "Silly Rabbi, tricks are for kids."

Opening Day! Series 1: Phillies@Nationals

Exciting to think that the season has already started and even better to see Roy Halladay pitching in a Phillies uniform.

Game 1: The first game could not have been any better. Roy Halladay goes 7 innings, throwing only 88 pitches, one earned run, and the offense took care of the rest. Ryan Howard went deep, and Placido Polanco hit a grandslam. The most impressive was Jimmy Rollins' patience and good early start. Even better? Everybody hits! That includes pitcher Roy Halladay; it was an infield hit and even on outs the ball never left the infield. Phils 11-1

Game 2: Offense was the name of the game again. Ryan Howard once again hits a 2-run homerun despite the "holes in his swing." Polanco and Jimmy continue getting on base while the middle of the lineup drives them in. Cole Hamels was sufficient. He needs to be more because in five innings of work he gave up 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 homerun, and 4! walks. It needs to get better because the offense won't always be scoring 7-8 runs and the opposition won't always be the Nationals. I will not panic because it's only the second game of the season and Cole's first start. He will be the reason why the Phillies win or lose in the postseason. Lastly, Ryan Madson got the save while pitching 1.1 innings, giving up 2 hits, striking out 2, and allowing no runs to score. Phils 8-4

Game 3: The Phillies going for the sweep turn to Kyle Kendrick? Roy Halladay's shadow looked shaky in the first inning allowing 3 runs, got into a groove and then allowed 2 more in the fifth, which spelled the end of his day. The Phillies slowly creeped back and tied the game at 5. Newly acquired pitcher Nelson Figueroa allowed the go-ahead bloop RBI single to Ryan Zimmerman. The Phillies had Chase Utley on 3rd base in the ninth with one out, but both Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino were unable to deliver and tie the game, thus giving the Phillies their first loss this season. 161-1 it is then. Nats 6-5

Golden Girls Quote of the Day: "Jealousy is a very ugly thing Dorothy and so are you in anything backless."