In his second major league start, Antonio Bastardo did exactly what was needed, going five innings and giving up just one run. He left in the 6th with two on, but ex-Dodger Chan Ho Park came in and got an RBI double play. That left the Phillies up 3-2. In the 7th, Carlos Ruiz knocked in two with a home run and Victorino followed with a solo shot. Howard later added one of his own as the Phillies went on to a 7-2 victory. Chan Ho Park was sterling for three innings in relief and Ryan Madson finished the job. The Phillies had all four games in the series 'won' but had to settle for two. So far on the roadtrip: 5-2.
I split time last night listening to the end of the IronPigs' game and the start of the Phillies' game on radio, watching a bit of the Phillies' game on TV, and transcribing an interview I did Friday in New York. Results were mixed. The 'Pigs ended in defeat. Jim Jackson and Gary Mathews were standing in for Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen. No offense to Jim Jackson, who does a fine job with the pre- and postgame shows, but he calls baseball like his main sport, hockey. Not good listening.
Still he and Mathews were far better than the awful, awful combination of Dan Schulman, Joe Morgan, and Steve Phillips on ESPN. Schulman sounded positively mournful that the Dodgers were losing. As for Morgan and Phillips, please get these guys something else to do. Awful, awful, awful. I was reminded again why I have watched almost no Sunday night or any other ESPN games this year.
The transcription went just fine.
