Monday, May 31, 2010

Inaugural Blog/Marlins Series

Hello, my name is Matthew Smith and I am a junior at West Chester East High School. As a part of the iJournalist Project in the West Chester Area School District, I will be posting this blog about 2 times per week, and the link will be connected to the website of the Daily Local News. I will be blogging about the Philadelphia Phillies 2010 campaign, and I will post about each series that the Phillies play in.


The Phillies just finished up a 3 game series in Miami, where they took 2 of 3 games from the Florida Marlins, which was badly needed after a sweep at the hands of the New York Mets earlier in the week. However, the series was a roller coaster ride in almost every sense.

Game 1: After being shutout 3 consecutive times against the Mets, the offense showed some (although not many) signs of life in game 1 of the series, scoring 3 runs and defeating the Marlins 3-2. The Marlins opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd with 2 2-out runs on a throwing error by pitcher Kyle Kendrick, taking a 2-0 lead. Raul IbaƱez broke the 30 inning scoreless streak in the top of the 4th inning of the game with a triple to right-center field that knocked in Ryan Howard after Cameron Maybin badly misplayed the ball and allowed it to reach the fence, cutting the lead to 2-1. In the top of the 5th inning, Ryan Howard tied the game at 2 with a single to right-center field that plated Chase Utley. In the top of the 7th, Utley completed the comeback with an RBI groundout to shortstop that scored Shane Victorino to take the lead, 3-2. Kendrick picked up the win, boosting his record to 3-2 after 6 quality innings in which he allowed 2 runs, neither of them earned. Chad Durbin, Danys Baez, and interim closer Jose Contreras finished the job, each tossing 1 shutout inning.

Game 2: The Phillies looked to build on their game 1 win with an even more productive game 2, and although they did not achieve that, they did achieve history. Ace Roy Halladay took the mound on this Saturday night in late May. Anyone could have told you that Halladay was set to pitch a very good game. No one realized just how good it would be. As far as offensive production for the night goes, there was not much. The Phillies scored 1 run on 5 hits, and did not do anything that brought attention or caused excitement. However, Roy Halladay acquired plenty of attention and brought more excitement than anyone had bargained for. As each Marlins batter stepped up, they would shortly be sent back to the dugout. 26 consecutive times, Halladay retired a Marlins batter. Then with 2 outs in the 9th inning, Halladay retired Ronny Paulino on a groundout to 3rd base, and the celebration was on. Halladay threw just the 2nd perfect game in Phillies history, and the 20th in MLB history.

Game 3: The Phillies went into game 3 of this series on Sunday afternoon with hopes of a sweep, but this game belonged to the Marlins. Following a weak offensive performance in game 2, the Phillies returned to their run-less ways for game 3, and there was no pitching performance that could have saved them from a loss in this game. Jamie Moyer threw 6 solid innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, and reliever David Herndon threw 2 shutout innings. The two combined for a stellar pitching performance, but Anibal Sanchez had the Phillies' number. He threw 6 2/3 shutout innings, and the Marlins bullpen finished the job, bringing the Marlins to a 1-0 victory, with the only run of the game being scored by Hanley Ramirez on an RBI single by Ronny Paulino.

Final Analysis: All teams hit offensive cold spells. It is what seperates the good from the bad, and the great from the good, when teams are able to limit the length and frequency of these cold spells. It will be critical for the Phillies (28-21) to break out of their slump in their upcoming 3 games series in Atlanta tonight, where they will face the Braves (28-22), who lay just a half game behind the Phillies for the lead of the N.L. East.