On the field as the national anthem is sung at the Reading park on Thursday night.It was '70's throwback night in Philadelphia last night and the Phillies' bats came out to play. It didn't look that way early, when Greg Maddux, making his first start since being reacquired by the Dodgers, needed only 11 pitches to dispatch the first six Phillie batters. It didn't help that Kyle Kendrick, pounded in his last two starts, gave up a first-inning homer to Andre Ethier. No doubt the Kendrick detractors were in immediate full cry. I don't quite get why they, from the sour Keith Law to the nothing-but-the-numbers sabermetrics geeks, ignore what the kid has actually done so far in his young career. It's as if wins, with run support or not, count for nothing in their perfect world.
In the end, Kendrick went 5.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits. Maddux was sailing along till Pat Burrell in the 4th finally made him work and drew a walk. Ryan Howard then homered to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. They finally chased Maddux in the 6th, with a five-run outburst capped by a Coste 3-run homer. Chase Utley later added a solo shot in the 8-1 victory. The bullpen too was solid. This retro things works. Keep it going, guys!
In the last baseball game ever to be played at the Olympics, South Korea beat Cuba to take the gold medal. The USA defeated Japan 8-4 for the bronze. I wonder if Olympians Jason Donald and Lou Marson will get September call-ups.
