From the old brick ballpark in Reading, Pennsylvania.For all the folks predicting an easy time of it this week, I had these three words: It's the Astros. That's the team that always beats the Phillies up, even without Oswalt, Bagwell, and Biggio. Same old story last night. Joe Blanton gave up a run in the first, then was very good through the seventh. Carlos Ruiz tied the game with a home run to left. The Phillies managed to get another run off Brett Myers, who looks like a shambling mess again but seemed to be enjoying his return and certainly is pitching well.
Each time the Phils threatened for more, Myers thwarted them. Jasyon Werth's falling asleep at second did not help. How could anyone be picked off at second as a batter is walking to first? It reminded me again of Scutaro last year stealing second in the act of being walked. Shudder. It's odd how many times Werth has not had his head in the game this year. Then there was the confrontational, controversial call in the eighth, which eventually led to Ryan Madson giving up two runs. The Astros took a 3-2 lead and that was the game. My pre-series prediction was the Phillies get one; if lucky, they get two.
Tonight it's Cole (where is the run support) Hamels v. Bud Norris. The Phillies have often knocked Norris around but watch out, he too seems to have found himself.
My feeling about the 'Stros turn out to be right. They are only one of two NL teams with a winning record at CBP, at a rate of something like .638. The other team, the Braves, is only a game over .500 there. Time to lower the 'Stros.
