Blue Jays Series

Game 1: Phillies 9, Blue Jays 0
Length of game: 2:46; W - Halladay (9-6) - 7 IP, 0 ER; L - Litsch (0-2) - 4 IP, 6 ER; Gload (3 for 4) knocks in 4 runs for Phillies; Contreras and Herndon finish game with 1 scoreless inning each; Rollins goes 0 for 1 with 4 walks; Halladay goes 7 strong in first start against former team

Game 2: Blue Jays 5, Phillies 1
Length of game: 2:44; W - Marcum (7-3) - 6 IP, 1 ER; L - Hamels (6-6) - 4 IP, 5 ER; Howard hits solo home run (15) for only Phillies run; Figueroa (2 innings), Baez (1 inning), and Zagurski (1 inning in 2nd appearance of season) combine to shutout Blue Jays in innings 5-8

Game 3: Phillies 11, Blue Jays 2
Length of game: 3:04; W - Moyer (9-6) - 7 IP, 2 ER; L - Cecil (7-5) - 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER; 4 Blue Jays errors leads to 6 unearned runs scored by Phillies; Herndon and Baez finish game for Phillies with 1 scoreless inning each; Moyer allows MLB record 506th home run of career; Victorino goes 3 for 5; Rollins goes 3 for 6, raising average to .311

Final Analysis: Another strong series for the Phillies (40-33) has them looking much better in the playoff race. Sure, it's only June, but it's never too early to begin looking at it. They are 2.5 games behind the Braves in the N.L. East, and are 2 games behind the 2nd place Mets for the wild card. After a 6-3 homestand, the Phillies hit the road and head to Cincinnati for a 3 game series against the N.L. Central leading Reds (42-34). The return of Mike Zagurski (2 1/3 IP, 0 ER in 2 appearances) adds another lefty to the bullpen and adds to the Phillies' pitching depth. Chase Utley has finally started to hit, Ryan Howard is still on a tear, and the return of Jimmy Rollins as the leadoff hitter has the Phillies offense looking very strong. The return of Carlos Ruiz (placed on the 15-day DL on June 19) will also help the offense. Overall, things are looking very good for the Phillies after this series.

Indians Series

Game 1: Phillies 2, Indians 1
Length of game: 2:22; W - Moyer (8-6) - 8 IP, 1 ER; L - Talbot (7-6) - 7 IP, 2 ER; 7 total hits in game; Howard and Werth each knock in 1 run for Phillies; Romero and Lidge finish the game

Game 2: Phillies 7, Indians 6
Length of game: 3:16; W - Romero (1-0) - 1 IP, 0 ER; L - Wood (1-3) - 1/3 IP, 2 ER; Neither team scored more than 2 runs in any 1 inning; Phillies score in 5 seperate innings; Indians score in 4 seperate innings; Rollins hits 2 run walk off home run (3) off Wood

Game 3: Phillies 12, Indians 3
Length of game: 2:36 (1:37 delay); W - Blanton (3-5) - 7 2/3 IP, 3 ER; L - Carmona (6-6) - 4 IP, 5 ER; every Phillies starter gets at least 1 hit; Polanco goes 4-5; Utley goes 3-3; Figueroa finishes game with 1 1/3 shutout innings

Final Analysis: Phillies fans can breathe a sigh of relief. After struggling for about a month, the Phillies finally looked good in a series. Game 1 showed how strong the Phillies' pitching can be at times and how the bullpen is able to hold a lead. Game 2 showed that the Phillies still remember how to win in dramatic fashion and can come back at any time. Game 3 showed how the entire team can come together for a strong win and give the bullpen a rest. Although it was against the Indians who are in last place in the A.L. Central, the Phillies still looked good throughout this series, and will finish out this makeshift 9-game homestand with 3 "home" games against the Toronto Blue Jays. They are 4-2 on the homestand so far, and could really use at least 2 wins in the Blue Jays series.

Twins Series

Game 1: Phillies 9, Twins 5
Length of game: 2:49; W - Blanton (2-5) - 6+ IP, 3 ER; L - Blackburn (6-4) - 1 2/3 IP, 8 ER; Utley goes 2 for 5 with 4 RBI (3 run home run (11) in 2nd inning); Howard goes 4 for 4 with 3 RBI (solo home run (12) in 2nd inning and solo home run (13) in 5th inning); Romero throws scoreless 8th

Game 2: Twins 13, Phillies 10 (F/11)
Length of game: 3:53; W - Rauch (2-1) - 2 IP, 1 ER; L - Baez (2-3) - 1 IP, 3 ER; Phillies led 9-4 entering 9th; Contreras and Lidge combine to allow 5 runs in 9th

Game 3: Twins 4, Phillies 1
Length of game: 2:17; W - Pavano (8-6) - 9 IP, 1 ER; L - Halladay (8-6) - 8 IP, 3 ER; Halladay loses 3rd consecutive start; Phillies get 4 hits

Final Analysis: No comment. I'm disgusted.