No Manny and no Red Sox, but there's still plenty of good baseball.Tonight pits two talented young lefties in Cole Hamels and Scott Kazmir. I think Kazmir gets a slight edge because the Phillies' best two hitters are left-handed (Utley and Howard), but Hamels is pitching better. Everyone knows about Hamels' change-up, but watch the second and third at-bats to see if he needs to throw some curves. His curve is really good, but his change-up is so ridiculously awesome that he rarely needs it. Can the Rays stay back?
As for Kazmir, he'll need to establish the strike zone with all his pitches. His fastball has a lot of sink, but he's missed the zone so far in the playoffs. If he can locate the fastball, especially against Utley and Howard, he can use his good change-up and excellent slider to finish hitters. The Phillies need to be patient and not let Kazmir get into a rhythm.
I'm so glad McCain and Obama get to give that excellent pre-game starter. Does anyone else think McCain is getting more air time? FOX wouldn't be biased would it?
As for the Steal a Base - Steal a Taco thing, I wouldn't steal a Taco Bell taco if they gave it to me.
T1 (PHI 2 - TB 0) --> Phillies score 2
Quick fly-out to open the game for Rollins. They need to make Kazmir work harder. That's better as Jayson Werth walks on six pitches. Utley follows with a bomb after working the count a bit. Kazmir got away with one but not that one. Howard follows up by hitting a titanic shot to ... second, and Burrell quickly strikes out. Good start for the Phillies. Where's the rust?
B1 (PHI 2 - TB 0)
I thought Ben Zobrist said his name was "Bends Over It". Need to get my hearing checked. Oh geez, Iwamura gets on as Hamels doesn't field his position by getting to the bag to take Howard's throw. Terrible way to start, and you just can't give up easy outs. Doesn't matter as Upton hits into 4-6-3 double play. At least, they did that the textbook way. Peña then grounds out, and Hamels is out of there with 11 pitches. Not the way to start if you're the Rays.
T2 (PHI 2 - TB 0)
Victorino uses his speed on the infield single up the middle. Did the turf make a difference there? Feliz walks. The Phillies need to keep working the count. Get Kazmir out and get to the bullpen to make things worse for the future starters. Victorino almost got caught off second. Actually, I think they got him as Bartlett's foot blocked his hand. There's the first out as Coste flies out to right. Another walk as Ruiz takes first. Kazmir needs to get it back on track, but the Phillies are playing this perfectly so far. Terrible decision, great play as Upton catches Rollins' shallow fly ball and throws out Victorino trying to tag. I have to question that play. Why run? Kazmir was really against the wall, and that just got him out of the jam.
B2 (PHI 2 - TB 0)
Longoria down swinging in three pitches. This looks like another phun night for Hamels victims. Easy fly ball to center from Crawford. Anyone else think he has a weird swing? Hamels then strikes out Aybar. 25 pitches so far. At least the Rays made it a whole 3 pitches more difficult for Hamels. At this pace, he'll easily get through 8.
T3 (PHI 2 - TB 0)
Oops swing gets Werth a double. Why did Victorino run again? Utley makes "productive out" by grounding out to second. I still say that it's better than striking out, but you shouldn't "try" to get out. Howard strikes out on a check-swing. Kazmir looks better now. Will it continue? Yep, he strikes out Burrell to end the inning.
B3 (PHI 2 - TB 0)
Phillies are leaving a lot on base. Can the Rays take advantage? Nope, Navarro pops out, and they continue to make it easy on Hamels. First hit by none other than Ben Zobrist. Hamels walks Bartlett, and for whatever reason, the bottom of the order gets to Hamels. Let's see how the top does. Iwamura follows with a hit, and now it's bases loaded for Upton. Uh-oh ... Upton ropes it, but Feliz, known for his glove, spears it and turns two. Hamels gets out of the jam.
T4 (PHI 3 - TB 0) --> Phillies score 1
Anyone else psyched for Quantum of Solace? Bloop single for Victorino, but Upton misses it and has Zobrist to back him up. That was weird. Feliz flips it into center-field. Announcer says it was good hitting, but he got lucky. He was way out in front. Now, can they finally make Kaz pay? Runners go, but Coste grounds out to first. Men on second and third with one out. Works like the sacrifice that Coste "tried" to get down. Ruiz does the "small ball thing" by grounding out to short to get the runner home. I'm surprised not to hear praise for Ruiz for moving the runners. Rollins strikes out on three pitches. Three run lead and Hamels pitching. Is it over?
B4 (PHI 3 - TB 1) --> Rays score 1
Hamels gets to the base on the grounder, but it was only Peña running. Don't give him too much credit. Groundball to third gets Longoria. Home Run Crawford! Well, that happened awful quick. Curve is the most dangerous pitch to throw to other lefty? I would think it would be that change considering it comes back towards the hitter. Oh well. Easy fly to center, and Hamels only has 53 pitches so far. Still, he gave up three baserunners last inning and a homer this inning. Is he losing his grip? Nah.
T5 (PHI 3 - TB 1)
Werth rips one into center, but it's caught. I guess it's better to dunk it, huh? Utley only pops it to second ... wait short ... wait second. Stupid shift. Howard walks. Little nubber gets down the line, and Peña can't hold on. Tough play, but one that should be made. Burrell on first, Howard on second. Easy grounder from Victorino. Kazmir is up to 94 pitches. One more inning? You would think with the bottom of the order coming up.
B5 (PHI 3 - TB 2) --> Rays score 1
Navarro strikes out. Zobrist grounds out. Oh, Bartlett walks and makes Hamels work again. Two walks for him. Good boy. Iwamura doubles home Bartlett. Rays are coming back. I guess I missed Bartlett's steal when I went to the bathroom. I wondered why he cake walked it in from second. Wow, I just looked at the poll, and the Phillies have 100% of the votes. Really? Who says Howard can't play defense? He stuck his glove into the stands and came away with the ball for out three. Hamels is not quite as sharp as he has been, but if he can stick it out another inning or two without more than one more run, they should be fine.
T6 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
Feliz dunks another one for a hit. Coste pops out. Ruiz flies out to left. Rollins out to center. Kazmir still in.
B6 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
Error by Howard. So I was wrong about his defense, but that was a sarcastic comment. Peña is then picked off, but Hamels might have balked. Longoria strikes out. Crawford grounds out. Hamels is back. Probably get one more from him.
T7 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
JP Howell in. Decent outing by Kazmir. At least he got through six. Werth strikes out in an ugly at-bat. Utley rips one up the middle for a hit. So, he gets the righty out but not the lefty. Hmm. Utley takes second. Wild pitch gets Utley to third. Howard strikes out. What a surprise. It has to be noisy as hell in that stadium. Whoa, that was close, but Burrell walks. Maddon comes out and will bring in Balfour to face Victorino. Balfour just blows it past Victorino. Good call Mr. Maddon.
B7 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
Philly just keeps leaving people on base. That might come back to bite them. Aybar pops out to Bartlett for out one. Navarro goes down swinging. If the Rays don't score now, they get Madson/Romero and then Lidge. Heck, he might come back for eight. Ground ball back to him for out three. 101 pitches. Do you bring him back out? With the top coming up, I let my bullpen take 'em out.
T8 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
Feliz flies out to right. Coste taps it back to the mound when Balfour shatters his bat. I get the feeling he does that a lot. Ruiz lines to right, but Zobrist makes a nice play. Balfour comes up big.
B8 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
9-1-2 up for the Rays. They need to be thinking about doing something here. Lidge hasn't blown one all year, but then again, Peña, Longoria, and, as shown tonight, Crawford can each tie the game in a swing in the ninth. It would just be better to do it now. Madson in. Bartlett out as he pops it into foul territory to Howard. Iwamura fooled on the 3-2 slider and flies out to right. Great slider gets Upton after a good at-bat. Probably should have been over sooner but oh well. Let's get Peña or Longoria to hit a big home run and watch Lidge just sit in the fetal position. "It's not happening. It's not happening ..."
T9 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
After a rough middle of the game, the pitchers have really taken over, but 1-2-3 for Philly and 3-4-5 for Tampa. Let's watch. Balfour's still out there. Wow. Rollins strikes out. He's not had a good day (0-5, 2K). Werth doubles down the right field line, and Balfour subsequently intentionally walks Utley. Miller Time!! Oh, not that. Oh well. Howard strikes out looking. Wheeler now in. Is anyone else less dependable than Howard? Double steal puts them on second and third for Bruntlett. Easy pop out to Iwamura to end the inning. Lidge time. Who's gonna be clutch? This has been a good one so far.
B9 (PHI 3 - TB 2)
Peña strikes out on a check-swing strike (he went) and three sliders. Nasty. Another strikeout. That slider is just gross. And a rather uncoordinated catch in foul territory ends it. Game 1 to the Phillies.
Great Game 1. This one pretty much went as expected. I think most thought Hamels would win. The Phillies needed that one, and they got it.
Ken Rosenthal is really short.
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