I got off the bus from New York around 11 last night. Driving home, I heard that the Oswalt, Madson, and Lidge had combined on a one-hit shutout in a 1-0 Phillies win. Luckily, the game was being rebroadcast when I got home. I got to see it from the 5th inning on. Brave starter Tommy Hanson finally broke the streak. In the past seven games, no opposing pitcher had made it past the 5th inning against the Phillies.
Hanson, who looked superb, made it through six. But Oswalt was simply better in the seven innings of one-hit ball he threw. He said after the game that watching what Cole and Halladay had done the previous nights made him determined not to be outdone. Oswalt didn't get the win last night but he more than held his own. Consider: He has yet to lose a game in his career at Citizens Bank Park.
Raul Ibanez provided the only run of the game, with an RBI double in the 8th that just grazed the foul line. Jayson Werth, who had walked, came round to score. What a thriller! It was also the only game in which the Braves played decent ball. With the sweep, the magic number is now down to 4.
