Ryan Howard Hits Grand Slam: Phillies 2 1/2 Games Behind Mets
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by Niteowl049
Baseball Notebook
Howard Hits Two Homers Including a Grand Slam
The Philadelphia Phillies were leading 11-3 after six innings, but after both teams combined to score ten more runs in the last three innings, the Phillies hung on to win 13-11. Ryan Howard hit his 39th and 40th homers of the season, including a grand slam to drive in five runs. Aaron Rowand hit his 25th and 26th home runs of the season and showed again why the Phillies should resign him for the 2008 season. To lose Rowand to free agency would be a huge mistake.
Kyle Kendrick (9-4) took the win, giving up three runs in six innings, but reliever Clay Condrey entered the game and gave up four runs and five hits without recording an out. The Phillies showed their biggest strength, which is their hitting, and a shaky bullpen, which is their biggest weakness. When a bullpen gives up eight runs, a team is usually going to lose the game, but the hitters outhit the shoddy relief work to take the 13-11 win. Most important of all the Phillies moved to within 2 1/2 games of the New York Mets, who were pounded by the Washington Nationals 12-4.
Yankees Keep Pressure on Red Sox
The fact that the Yankees have an easy schedule until the end of the season, the New York Yankees took advantage of this and beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5. Daniel Cabrera (9-17) couldn't hold an early 2-0 lead. When I saw the Orioles were ahead, I had a feeling the Yankees would come back to win. The Yankees don't even have to face the best Orioles pitcher, Erik Bedard, making it more likely to take this series. Phillip Hughes (4-3) took the win for the Yankees, as the Yankees moved to within 3 1/2 games of the Boston Red Sox. With 12 Yankees games remaining, it is very possible they could still take over first in the AL East. The only hope for the Orioles is that Mike Mussina is starting tonight, and you never know which Mussina will show up on the mound.
Around the Bases
Frank Thomas hit three home runs, giving him 25 for the season, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1. The three homers enabled Thomas to pass Mel Ott, who had 511 home runs and tied him with Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks, who posted 512 home runs. He is currently four behind Alex Rodriguez with 516. The Cleveland Indians took a huge 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers, winning in the eleventh inning on Casey Blake's second walkoff homer in four days. This win stretched the Indians lead to 5 1/2 games over the Tigers. An Indians loss would have let the Tigers move to within 3 1/2 games of the Indians.
The Chicago White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 11-3, allowing the White Sox to escape the AL Central cellar. Rookie Josh Fields hit his 20th home run in the contest. Fields has played very well this season, especially when considering he didn't play his first game until June 6th, and has 63 RBI's. He would probably be close to 100 RBIs if he had played in April and May. Why Edwin Jackson (4-14) wasn't removed sooner by manager Joe Maddon in the Los Angeles Angels' 10-7 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays is beyond me. Jackson allowed seven runs and 14 hits in less than five innings of pitching. It seems like he would be pulled when he gave up the 11th or 12th hit instead of letting him stay in the game. Jackson was once the hot pitching prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but looks like now he is on the treadmill to oblivion.
Rookie Jack Cassel (1-0) of the San Diego Padres pitched six shutout innings defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0. For a rookie to pitch this well, even against the Pirates, says a lot for his poise under pennant pressure. The win moved the Padres to within one game of the first place Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. The Atlanta Braves, playing most for pride with little chance of them passing the Phillies and Mets, took an 11-6 win over the Florida Marlins behind the pitching of John Smoltz (14-7). Andruw Jones hit his 25th home run in the contest and needs nine RBI's to reach 100 RBI's for his third straight season. His .229 average still may prevent him from getting top dollar in free agent market this fall, but a lot of teams wouldn't mind adding a 25 homer man to their roster.
It may be panic time soon for the Mets if they can't end their four game losing streak, while the second place Phillies are in the middle of a five game winning streak. The Mets were pounded by the Nationals 12-4 last night. Mets have to beat the lower teams in the division if they are going to hold on to first place. The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers both won as the Brewers remained a game behind the Cubs. Yovanni Gallardo (9-4) pitched eight innings of shutout baseball to take a 6-0 win over the Houston Astros. Gallardo is now tied with Kyle Kendrick for best record among NL rookie pitchers with both having identical 9-4 records.
