Home Run or Foul?

Here is another piece of evidence that Greg Dobbs' home run should've ended the game and given the Phillies the win (photo courtesy of westbrook8 on the Phils message board):

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1789/phillies.jpg

Looking On The Bright Side, This Happened...

Enjoy!

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5026043

Phils Drop Opener

Jon Lester was dominant, Blanton contiuned his streak of excellent pitching, 34 strikeouts were recorded, and Greg Dobbs' hit sailed way over the top of the foul pole sparking a discussion on whether or not it should be reviewed. That was basically the story on a long Friday night game vs. Boston. In 13 innings, the Phillies only picked up 2 runs on 5 hits. Blanton went 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. Lester shut down the Phillies through 7, giving up 1 run on 2 hits, with 11 strikeouts. Ryan Howard tied the game in the 9th vs. Ramon Ramirez (Papelbon was unavailable) with a towering shot to right. Kyle Kendrick ultimatley got the loss for the Phils, giving up 3 runs in the top of the 13th. Yeah this recap sucked by I don't really want to revisit last night and I'm getting ready to go tonight! Follow us on Twitter for in-park updates.

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-Positive of the Game: Joe Blanton. 7 innings, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 W, 7 K

-Negative of the Game: The Offense. A combination of swinging and bad pitches and facing Jon Lester doomed our offense who only got 2 runs on 5 hits.

-Player of the Game: Jon Lester. 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 W, 11 K

-Play of the Game: Ryan Howard's game tying home run in the bottom of the 9th, video.

-Up Next: Game 2 vs. Boston, Matsuzaka (1-4, 7.33) vs. Bastardo (2-0, 2.45), 7:05 PM

Breaking News: Eyre to DL, Kendrick Called Up

From Todd Zolecki (www.twitter.com/ToddZolecki):

"Scott Eyre has been placed on the 15 day DL with a strained left calf. Righthander Kyle Kendrick has been recalled from Triple-A."

Also tonight's lineup is in:

Rollins, SS

Utley, 2B

Werth, RF

Howard, 1B

Ibanez, LF

Victorino, CF

Feliz, 3B

Ruiz, C

Blanton, SP

Red Sox, June 12th-14th

American League rival and perennial power Boston Red Sox are coming into Philly for a weekend interleague series. Expect many members of Red Sox Nation to come with them. The Sox are coming in off a series with their hated rival as well, sweeping the Yankees in three games. Unlike the Mets, the Red Sox are healthy with the exception of their speedy CF Jacoby Ellsbury who is out with an injured shoulder (video)(UPDATE: Ellsbury may return to the lineup tonight). Sox all-star DH David Ortiz has struggled all year hitting only .203 with 4 home runs (3 of which have come in the past week). Considering the Sox have a pretty decent 1B in Kevin Youkilis (.350, 10 HR, 37 RBIs) don't expect to see much of Ortiz. Boston also features All-Stars Jason Bay (LF) and Dustin Pedroia (2B). J.D. Drew is their RF so get your batteries ready.

Unfortunately for the Fightins', the Sox are throwing their three best pitchers in this series starting off with one of the best in the game, Jon Lester. After surviving cancer, Lester has come back to pitch incredibly well for the Sox over the last two years. On May 19th of last year, Lester tossed a no-hitter at Fenway against Kansas City. Mitch Williams has said "I'm really not sure how anyone hits him." Lester is 5-5 on the season with a 5.09 ERA, but don't let numbers fool you. This guy can pitch. Saturday (I''ll be there!) sees Dice-K take the hill. Dice-K has been a disappointment for the most part since his arrival from Japan. This season he is only 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA. Sunday Josh Beckett will pitch for the Sox. Consistently one of the best pitchers in the game, he currently has a 7-2 record with a 3.77 ERA and 76 K's in 76.1 IP. Of course there is also that guy who closes games, Jonathan Papelbon who has 16 saves, tied for second best in MLB.

Batting Leaders

Avg.: Kevin Youkilis, .350

HR: Jason Bay, 16

RBI: Jason Bay, 57
Hits: Jacoby Ellsbury, 71

Runs: Dustin Pedroia, 46

SB: Jacoby Ellsbury, 23

Pitching Leaders (Starters and Relievers)

W: Tim Wakefield, 8

ERA: Ramon Ramirez, 1.86

IP: Josh Beckett, 76.1...Tim Wakefield has 76.0

K: Jon Lester, 85

Saves: Jonathan Papelbon, 16

HR (given up): Jon Lester, 11

Rauuuuul Leads Phillies Past Mets

Raul Ibanez did it again. In the top of the 10th he hit a 2 out, 3 run home run deep into the foggy night of Citi Field breaking the 3-3 tie and giving the Phils a 6-3 lead. Moyer gave a typical Moyer start going 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. Tim Redding looked great all night, going 7 innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. Carlos Beltran again lead the way for the Mets with 3 RBIs. Madson came in and got the job done again, earning the save. The Phils took two out of three from the Mets and begin a three game weekend series vs. Boston tonight at 7:05.

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-Positive of the Game: Bullpen. 4 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit.

-Negative of the Game: Ryan Howard & Jayson Werth. Howard: 0-4, 2 K, Werth: 0-5, 3 K

-Player of the Game: Raul Ibanez. 1 for 5, run, 3 RBIs, home run

-Play of the Game: Raul Ibanez's go head home run in the 10th, video.

-Up Next: Phils finally return home to take on the Red Sox at 7:05, Blanton (4-3, 5.46) vs. Lester (5-5, 5.09)

Phils Beat Mets

What a game! The Phillies beat the Mets 5-4 Wednesday night to extend their lead in the NL East back to 3 games. Cole Hamels struggled again going 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 11 hits and having a high pitch count. However the Phils held the Mets scoreless through 6 innings. Chan Ho Park looked good again and picked up the win. Werth saved the game in the bottom of the 10th when he dove and caught a gapper by David Wright. Fernando Martinez was on first for the Mets and probably would've scored had the ball went by Jayson. Utley homered twice including an 11th inning homer to give the Phils the lead. Madson, filling in for Lidge, got the save. Mike Pelfrey of the Mets went 6 innings giving up 4 runs (2 earned) with 6 hits. He also struggled mentally all night, getting quite irritated when Chase Utley called timeout right before his pitch. Alex Cora had 2 RBIs for New York. Amazing win for the Fightins and they will go for the series win tomorrow.

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-Positive of the Game: Phillies bullpen. After Hamels struggled again the bullpen pitched 6 scoreless innings giving up only 5 hits. Chan Ho Park got the win.

-Negative of the Game: Hamels. Again, Cole struggled with a high pitch count and gave up 11 hits, 4 runs, over 5 innings.

-Player of the Game: Chase Utley. 3 for 5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 home runs

-Play of the Game: Jayson Werth's catch, video.

-Up Next: The rubber game of the 3 game set. Moyer (4-5, 6.27) vs. Redding (0-2, 6.97)

Breaking News: Jimmy Back in Leadoff Spot

Tonight's lineup is in:

Rollins
Victorino
Utley
Howard
Ibanez
Werth
Feliz
Ruiz
Hamels

Phillies Select CF Kelly Dugan

The Phils had to wait until the 75th pick to get involved in the 2009 MLB Draft. They decided to go with Kelly Dugan, a CF from Notre Dame High School in Encino, CA. After the draft is completely over, KeepinItCrispy will have a full draft report on the Phils. Stay tuned!

Follow the draft live at: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/draftcaster.jsp

Phils Get to Johan, Still Lose

The Phils finally got to Johan Santana Tuesday night but still lost 6-5. J.A. Happ had would could probably be called the worst start of his career going 5.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. He consistently had trouble with the ball up in the zone. David Wright hit his 4th home run of the year in the second followed by a 2 run home run by Beltran in the 3rd. The Phils answered back in the 4th with back-to-back home runs from the Big Man and Raaauuul.

The score remained 3-2 Mets until the 6th when two struggling Phillies helped out the offense. Jayson Werth lead off with a base hit and three batters later Jimmy Rollins, yes JRoll, hit a two run bomb to left. Unfortunately the Phillies bullpen did not perform well last night. Happ gave up a lead off double in the 6th to Tatis. Ruiz tried to pick him off at second but it was a bad throw and Tatis went to third. Ryan Church grounded to first and Howard threw to the plate with Tatis coming down the line. Tatis got his leg under Ruiz and on the plate before the tag, but was called out. That was it for Happ and Condrey came in. He gave up a hit to Santos and then Johan Santana doubled to right, scoring Church. Cora singled to score Santos.

Ryan Church hit one into the apple in the 7th and Utley hit one out to right in the 8th. In the end KRod came in and shut down the Phillies. Something the Mets have been unable to do over the past two years. Tough loss considering we got to Johan but if we win the next two we are in excellent shape.

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-Positive of the Game: The Phillies bats got to Johan Santana for the first time since he has been a Met

-Negative of the Game: Pitching. Happ struggled for the first time in his career and Condrey and Durbin both gave up a run.

-Player of the Game: Jimmy Rollins. 3 for 4, run, 2 RBIs, home run

-Play of the Game: Johan Santana's double, video.

-Up Next: Game 2 in Flushing, Hamels (4-2, 4.40) vs. Pelfrey (4-2, 4.85)