What happened?
The Phillies completed the three game sweep behind a 12 run outburst and another solid start from Joe Blanton.
Who did what?
Joe Blanton (W, 8-6) gave up three runs in eight innings for the win. He gave up 10 hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out 4. He went 2 for 4 at the dish with a run scored and an RBI.
Jimmy Rollins went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Shane Victorino went 1 for 5 with a triple (10) and an RBI.
Chase Utley went 1 for 3 with two runs and an RBI.
Ryan Howard went 2 for 4 with a double (27), a homer (32) and four RBIs.
Jayson Werth went 2 for 4 with a homer (28) and 2 RBIs.
Carlos Ruiz went 1 for 2 with a homer (7) and an RBI.
Doug Davis (L, 7-11) gave up six runs (five earned) in five innings. He allowed five hits, while walking four and striking out six.
Mark Reynolds went 2 for 3 with a double (24) and two runs.
Miguel Montero went 1 for 4 with a double (24) and an RBI.
Chad Tracy went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
What does this mean?
If there is one thing that we can expect from the Phillies these days, it’s pitching. Cliff Lee has been as good as advertised, Jay Happ is among the league leaders in ERA, and Joe Blanton has been flat-out great since June. Add in a dash of Cole Hamels and a touch of Pedro Martinez, and you have the makings of a championship caliber rotation. That much we know.
What has been giving the Phillies trouble lately has been their offense. Despite leading the league in several offensive catergories, they seemed to be going through one of those funks where they were leaving too many men on base and winning by one or two runs instead of seven or eight.
That was hardly a concern in the final game against the D’Backs, however, as they tagged one of those goofy lefties, Doug Davis, for five earned runs in as many innings. They jumped out early with a double from Ryan Howard (off a lefty, no less) and a two run single from Ben Francisco. They were far from finished, as Jayson Werth, Carlos Ruiz and Howard would all add long balls to add to the drubbing.
When the night ended, they were a season high 20 games over .500, while leading the Atlanta Braves the Florida Marlins by 6.5 games.
What’s next for our heroes?
The Phils head to Flushing for a four game series against the New York Mets. In game one, Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.69) opposes Mike Pelfrey (8-8, 4.75).
33 Comments on “August 20 Game Recap: Phillies 12, Diamondbacks 3”
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General
August 20th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
remember when the Phillies and the Mets were in a rivalry
lol
August 20th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
NY has another team besides the Yankees?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
phils only 1.5 games behind dodgers. home field again through nl? that would be nice
August 20th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Joey B’s bat is as good as his arm
August 20th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Good call Bob….I’m all for it. Although at this point those SOBs over in St Louis are looking to push right on past the both of us.
With our rotation the way it is now, no team in the NL scares me anymore. ESPECIALLY not the Dodgers. Just another reminder why its good to be an August/September team.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:32 am
Blanton didn’t strike out no ten batters, Dash.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:35 am
Was there!!! Howard’s 455 ft blast —- sweet!!!
August 21st, 2009 at 12:37 am
Yeah he had 4 Ks. And we’re up 6.5 on both Florida & Atlanta.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:40 am
Hey Meech, The real Gonzo emailed me and told me I did nice blog work on MLJ. I promptly soiled myself.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:34 am
Thank god wright is out… he kills us…
the first game in this series is huge…
August 21st, 2009 at 2:43 am
I dont recall wright having even one hit against us last series, and he struck out like twice in each game….but still good thing he’s out
August 21st, 2009 at 2:45 am
Now if only Ibanez gets his timing down
August 21st, 2009 at 3:01 am
I’ve been Rick Roll’d. AHHHH!
August 21st, 2009 at 3:20 am
David Wright was hitting .371 against the Sillies this year (13 for 35), yet he was oh for 11 in the last series.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:33 am
“Cliff Lee has been as good as advertised”
I think 4-0 0.82 ERA makes that a bit understated. How about ‘Cliff Lee has been simply amazing?’
August 21st, 2009 at 8:08 am
I’d say Cliff Lee is as Halladay was advertised. But, really, last night was about Blanton-Joe the Lumber. What another great start, and finally gets a win. How about the rumor that Sheffield pulled himself out of the game last night? Someone help me out with that.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:07 am
Is it me or does anyone else feel embarrassed for Bruntlett?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
Charlie should have put Stairs at second.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
What timing! The Phils roll into New York just as Billy the Rat comes back! He’s probably missed the feeling of giving up long homers. Here’s hoping our heroes can help him out.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:36 am
I think the Mets are just what Cole needs to get his season straight.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:45 am
It pleases me to think that the Mutts are a team for a pitcher to get healthy on
August 21st, 2009 at 10:41 am
not a single walk in the whole series. UN-BOB-WEVABLE.
@ John- The Mets still suck and I still effing hate them.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:43 am
Anyone in DC planning on going to games when the Phils come to town? I am tempted to get seats behind the dugout for one of the games, I have never sat up there and really want to. If not, I am happy being up on the 3B line or by the Red Porch.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:26 am
Not only were there no walks in the whole series, but freakin’ Cliff Lee only threw 23 or 24 balls in his entire 9-inning outing on Wednesday – less than three per inning. Absurd.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
@Watrick:
The Mets put Sheffield on waivers, someone claimed him, and they pulled him back which means they can’t trade him for the rest of the year. He’s demanding a contract extension and they said no, so he’s threatening to walk. Jerry Manuel says Sheff asked for the night off to work through some things.
While looking for that story last night, I came across the following tidbit which I think, sadly, sums up the Mets’ 2009 season all too well:
Sheffield leads the Mets in homeruns with 10 and RBI with 43.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
“What a goofy game last night. All those crooked numbers on the scoreboard is always a good thing to see, especially when you go up against one of those typical lefties with a lineup like we have. That Doug Davis just slooooows the game down and throws those silly cutters all over the strikezone and oh man is he tough to rattle or what!? You know hes gonna give the opposing lineup a fight right up until the end cause he battled back from cancer!!!! I wonder if him and Jon Lester gave each other tips or something? Those lefties sure are a different breed alright. Who else would come back from cancer and throw TREMENDOUS cutters like those two? And I’m sure not gonna miss seeing that pest Ryan Roberts again for a while. He is just one of those dirtballs that plays the game the right way and oh boy those tatoos sure are wacky.”
/Wheeler’d
August 21st, 2009 at 12:53 pm
hahaha where do u get all of these wheeler quotes?
August 21st, 2009 at 1:14 pm
might d.whitmore be using this as reference?
http://www.chriswheelerglossary.com/
either way its pure gold. bravo!
August 21st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
that site was burned into my brain a few years back. now i just type straight from the heart
August 21st, 2009 at 1:19 pm
its not just like you’re stringing the words together. its almost as if you ARE wheels. seriously. well done.
do you think you could do tmac?
also, i am so happy that no one on our team has a neck tattoo.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@D. Whit, “I wonder if him and Jon Lester gave each other tips or something?” lol that shit is hilarious
August 21st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Muffin has really been using the dirtball term recently….I never remembered him saying it much before the last couple months.
My favorite Wheelerism is “this is just a really WEIRD game tonight” and then Comcast goes to a shot of the moon to see if its full. It has to have happened 10 times this year.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:42 pm
D. Whitmore wins once again. Nice work, as usual.