The Big Piece is what Charlie Manuel calls Ryan Howard. And the BP delivered last night, with a solo home run in the 2nd, a two-run shot in the 4th, a double, and a walk. Howard has hit 11 homers in the past 15 games, while driving in 28. In what is getting to be a home habit, Pedro Martinez started the game, but was again knocked out by rain. Jamie Moyer, still sounding pouty, picked up for Pedro, went 4.1 innings, and got the win. (In 10+ innings of relief, Moyer has an ERA of about 0.33.) Ryan Madson worked out of trouble in the 8th, and Brad Lidge breezed through the 9th for a 4-2 win over the Braves. Tommy Hanson, also driven from the game by rain, absorbed the loss on his 23rd birthday.
Down in Florida, meanwhile, the Padres beat up on the Marlins. Both Braves and Marlins are now eight games behind.
Traffic to Philadelphia was befuddling yesterday, though there were, blessedly, no accidents. I left around 4 and pulled into the parking lot as the 1st inning was starting. I got to my seat in time to see Howard lead off the 2nd with a homer. Werth then struck out and we went into a rain delay of one hour and three minutes. When play resumed, Ibanez struck out, Feliz doubled, and Ruiz struck out to end the inning. And we went into another rain delay. When play resumed 45 minutes later, I was already driving home through fog and pouring rain.
