Phillies at Braves April 8-10 Series Thread

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With a 5-1 record on their opening homestand, the Phillies have gotten their 2011 season off to about as good a start as one could hope for. With a couple of exceptions, starting pitching was as good as advertised, the bullpen shut the door pretty much whenever called upon, and the offense showed a lot of encouraging signs as they reached double figures in hits in all five wins. Now the Phils hit the road for the first time this season as they set out on a six-game trip

The first road opponent for the Phillies this season will be the Atlanta Braves, who were the 2010 National League Wild Card qualifier and figure to be the main competition for the Phils in their quest for a fifth straight division title. For the first time since 1990, someone other than Bobby Cox is managing the Braves, as Fredi Gonzalez took over when Cox called it a career after last season. Atlanta went 3-4 on a seven-game road trip to open the season, including losses in the last three contests. They'll begin their home schedule with this series against the Phillies

Pitching Matchups

Friday (7:35, PHL 17): Cliff Lee vs. Tim Hudson

Lee's return to Philadelphia lived up to the hype as the lefty struck out 11, walked none, and picked up a 9-4 win over the Houston Astros after allowing three runs on four hits in seven innings. He is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in three career starts against the Braves

Hudson picked up right where he left off after an outstanding 2010 season in his 2011 debut, as he allowed a run and three hits over seven innings in an 11-2 win over the Washington Nationals. He was 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA in three starts against the Phillies last season, though he's probably best remembered for hitting Placido Polanco with a pitch on April 21 that chipped Polanco's left elbow and plagued the third baseman for the rest of the season. Lifetime against the Phils, Hudson is 6-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 18 starts

Saturday (1:10, FOX): Roy Oswalt vs. Brandon Beachy

In his first career start against his former club, Oswalt allowed two runs against the Astros in six innings to pick up a 7-3 victory in his 2011 debut. The win pushed Oswalt to 10-0 in 11 career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Now he'll be looking for a reversal of fortune against the Braves, a team he has never defeated in nine career appearances (eight starts), going 0-3 with a 6.21 ERA in that time

Beachy struck out seven while allowing a run on four hits over six innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his season debut, but did not pick up a decision in an eventual 2-1 win for the Braves. This will be just the fifth start of Beachy's MLB career, but the third against the Phillies. He had a 2.70 ERA in two starts against them last season, but an 0-2 record to show for it

Sunday (1:35, PHL 17): Cole Hamels vs. Derek Lowe

Hamels did not start his 2011 season the way he would've liked, as he lasted just 2 and 2/3 innings against the New York Mets, allowing six runs in a 7-1 loss. He was 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA in five starts against the Braves last season and is 9-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 19 lifetime starts against them

Lowe has made two starts already this season. He's split a pair of decisions, but has allowed just one run in 11 and 2/3 innings. In his last start, Lowe struck out seven while allowing a run on five hits over six innings, but was on the wrong end of a 1-0 score against the Brewers. Lowe was 1-3 with a 5.04 ERA in four starts against the Phillies last season, his first regular season losses against them since 1998. Lifetime against the Phils, Lowe is 7-4 with two saves and a 3.21 ERA in 18 games, 14 of which are starts

[Jimmerz]

Cliff Lee pulled in the 4th after giving up 6.. WTF!

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Howard up with the bags full in the 5th...

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.. and he taps it back to Hudson for a double play. Seriously?

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Kendrick not looking bad as the long man.

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Francisco HBP to start the 6th. Runs please.

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Ibanez K's and could use some Just For Men in that beard. Just saying.

[Jimmerz]

I thought Chipper Jones was dead. Another year we gotta hear about his old ass. T-mac man crushing on him.

[Jimmerz]

Nothing for the Phils in the 6th.

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Lee struggled with location all night, Victorino took a bad route on a Chipper Jones fly ball, Howard had an unfortunate result on a checkswing, Hudson settled in after a shaky start and that was your ballgame. Phils lose the series opener, 6-3. Oswalt vs. Beachy in the middle game

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Matt Vasgersian and Eric Karros will be calling the action on FOX today

[Jimmerz]

Looked like Victorino got there.. just missed it as it tailed away. Not saying it cost them the game though cuz Lee was getting hit around pretty good.

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Coulda been the lights. Heyward had a play just like it on Francisco later on

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Ibanez K's and could use some Just For Men in that beard. Just saying.

I noticed Brett Myers had some gray in his beard when the Phils played the Astros. Dude's six days older than me and four days younger than you. Weird, wild stuff

[Jimmerz]

BTW should have been scored an error.

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Underway in the middle game on FOX Saturday Baseball

[Jimmerz]

I noticed Brett Myers had some gray in his beard when the Phils played the Astros. Dude's six days older than me and four days younger than you. Weird, wild stuff

I have one gray in my beard lol

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Victorino ropes one to right for a leadoff double

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Beachy's scouting report said "no jams"

I thought Jams went out of style in the late 80s/early 90s

http://retrocommercials.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/jams.jpg

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I have one gray in my beard lol

My color's still there. Hairline ain't as long as it used to be, though

[Jimmerz]

Lot of ground outs from Rollins recently.

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Polanco pops foul to first, Rollins grounds to first. Howard will be intentionally walked to give the Phillies runners at the corners with two outs

[Jimmerz]

Let's see how Raul protects Howard here..

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Lot of ground outs from Rollins recently.

Need a new leado...oh wait

[Jimmerz]

Wait wtf, he just said Ibanez..

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Francisco makes 'em pay with a base hit to score Victorino with the game's first run

[Jimmerz]

That's it Benny!!

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Wait wtf, he just said Ibanez..

Braves have a lot of lefties in the 'pen, so Ibanez and Francisco are flipped this series

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Ibanez goes down swinging to retire the side. Phils get a run in the first, time for Oswalt to go to work

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Ibanez was way late on those fastballs. Could be time for a day off and a start for Mayberry

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Howard knocks down Prado's sharp grounder and gets the first out

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Three up, three down for Oswalt in the first. Phils lead 1-0 after an inning

[Jimmerz]

Take. These Broken Wings. And learn to fly again.

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Vasgersian tells us Schneider is giving Ruiz a "much deserved blow" this afternoon

What about the rest of us, Matt?

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Valdez has a hit taken away by a diving Uggla. Valdez was rounding first thinking the ball got past Uggla, who has never been known for his glove work

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Phils down in order in the second

[Jimmerz]

Vasgersian tells us Schneider is giving Ruiz a "much deserved blow" this afternoon

What about the rest of us, Matt?

#Winning

[Jimmerz]

Isn't that the Fox football theme?

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McCann gives one a ride the other way to lead off the second, but Victorino makes the grab at the track

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Isn't that the Fox football theme?

Yes, for some reason they started using it in the playoffs last year. Maybe they thought it might be the only chances they'll have to play it for a while

If someone gets hurt in the game, I wonder if they'll play the injury theme

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Wait, Jody Mac is the Braves hitting coach now?

http://www.staatalent.com/Images/INDEX-Headshots/McDonald-Jody.jpghttp://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/56/5622/IU1MG00Z/posters/ehrmann-mike-atlanta-braves-photo-day-lake-buena-vista-fl-february-21-larry-parrish.jpg

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Oswalt sets the Braves down in order in the second, Phils up 1-0 heading to the third

[Jimmerz]

Wait, Jody Mac is the Braves hitting coach now?

"Preeeeeciate it"

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Victorino singles to start the third

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Polanco lines one right at Prado for the first out. Victorino was running on the pitch, but gets back to first safely

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Rollins grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to retire the side. Gonzalez slipped a little, but Uggla made a barehand grab and fired to first to complete the double play. Uggla's gotta butcher a ball at some point today

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Gonzalez slices a double to right to start the third

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Gotta tell you, when I first heard Freddie Freeman's name, I wasn't expecting him to be white

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Freeman finds the hole on the left side and shoots it on through, Gonzalez scores to tie it at 1-1

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Beachy bunts Freeman up to second

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Prado shoots one the other way for a base hit, Francisco overruns the ball and allows Freeman to score, Braves take a 2-1 lead

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McLouth lines to Rollins, Prado wanders too far off first and gets doubled up to end the inning. Braves get two in the third to lead 2-1

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OFF THE SCHNEID! Ibanez walks with two outs, then Schneider follows with a two-run BOMB to give the Phllies a 3-2 lead in the fourth

[Jimmerz]

BOOM!

[Jimmerz]

"Where the big boys live"

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I don't know if it was Beachy or not, but once the ball left Schneider's bat you could hear a very "F***!" being yelled

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Valdez goes down swinging to retire the side, but not before Schneider's big fly gives the Phillies a 3-2 lead in the fourth

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"Where the big boys live"

Sounds like something Sarge would say. Or Wheels would steal and try to pass off as his own

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Oswalt gets squeezed on a couple pitches to McCann, but eventually gets him to line to Ibanez for the second out of the fourth

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Uggla taps back to Oswalt to complete a 1-2-3 fourth. On to the fifth with the Phils up 3-2

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Oswalt inside-outs one just fair down the line to start the fifth, but gets a little greedy and is gunned down by Heyward trying to stretch it into a double

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Tim Hudson being interviewed during the inning. Tells us Beachy "has a pair"

John Kruk would tell you to enjoy it while it lasts

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the fifth

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Heyward gets sawed off, Oswalt smothers the ball and gets the first out of the fifth. Schneider had to duck out of the way of some flying shrapnel

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Gonzalez bangs one off the top of the wall in left-center for his second double of the day

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Oswalt works around the one-out double by Gonzalez in the fifth, Phils lead 3-2 heading to the sixth

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Rollins splits the gap in right-center for a double to start the sixth. Rounded second hard, but slammed on the breaks

Howard grounds to first to send Rollins to third with one out

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Francisco checks his swing and lines to second, Rollins was off on contact and gets doubled off to retire the side. Phils aren't having the best luck with checkswings in this series

[Jimmerz]

All I hear is random words at this point. These announcers suck.

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Strange to look in the Braves dugout and not see Cox. I think they have a new manager this year, too

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All I hear is random words at this point. These announcers suck.

Vasgersian is a much better studio host than play-by-play guy. Karros, well, if you can't say anything nice...

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Oswalt not getting the outside corner against lefties

[Jimmerz]

Vasgersian is a much better studio host than play-by-play guy. Karros, well, if you can't say anything nice...

Putting me to sleep.

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Jones singles, McCann walks, Braves have two on with two outs in the sixth

[Jimmerz]

His name is Dan Uggla

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Doesn't seem like Oswalt is getting the outside corner against righties, either

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His name is Dan Uggla

Won't miss hearing that from the Marlins announcers. Speaking of broadcasters that suck

[Jimmerz]

Come on Oswalt

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Uggla walks to load the bases. According to Vasgersian, the pitch was well off the plate. Unless their angle is a lot better than the one on TV, "well off the plate" must be the same as "very close to or over the outside corner"

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Herndon warming up

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Heyward again gets sawed off and pops to Polanco to end the inning, Braves leave 'em loaded. On to the seventh with the Phils up 3-2

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Ibanez pokes one down the line for a double to start the seventh. Wheels would tell us that it would be nice for the Phillies to get some insurance after just dodging a bullet

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Ibanez will be the last batter Beachy faces, Sherrill will take over. Beachy is still in search of his first career win

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Karros notes Beachy had a quality start. Unless Ibanez comes around to score here, then it wouldn't be

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Mayberry batting for Schneider

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Mayberry gets jammed with two strikes, but flares it into left for a base hit. Ibanez held up to make sure the ball wasn't caught and stops at third with no outs

[Jimmerz]

EVERYONE GETS A BLOW! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!

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Valdez walks to load the bases

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Ruiz batting for Oswalt

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Sherrill will be lifted after not retiring either batter he faces

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Scott Linebrink now pitching for the Braves

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jimmerz]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jimmerz]

CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCH!!!

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PANAMANIA! Ruiz with a pinch-hit grand slam on an 0-2 pitch and the Phillies lead 7-2!

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Victorino follows by dropping a base hit to center. Vasgersian said it was Polanco, but we knew

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First career grand slam for Ruiz

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Polanco rung up on a checkswing for the first out of the inning. Looked like it could've used an appeal, but apparently umpires aren't into that sort of thing anymore

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NshzYK9y0

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Rollins goes down swinging but Howard picks him up by going the other way for a double, Victorino scores to make it 8-2

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Francisco grounds to third to retire the side, but not before the Phils put five on the board to lead 8-2, Ruiz's slam the big blow

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Herndon now pitching

[Jimmerz]

..burning down the avenue!!

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That's Gary Cederstrom behind the plate today. I've had some gripes with him in this one, but the players seem cool with him

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Three up, three down for Herndon in the seventh, aided by a nice grab by Howard on a Young grounder to end the inning. Phils lead 8-2 heading to the eighth

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According to Todd Zolecki, Phillies pinch-hitters are batting .600 this season, 9 hits in 15 at-bats

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Cristhian Martinez now pitching for the Braves

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Jeez, Yankees and Red Sox started the same time as this game and are only in the fifth inning. Those games are brutal to watch

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Mike Martinez makes it 10-for-16 for Phillies pinch-hitters as he bats for Herndon and singles with one out in the eighth

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With two outs, Ruiz drops one fair down the line in left, Martinez comes all the way around to make it 9-2

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Ruiz has played two innings and now has a career high for RBI in a game. Normally you'd say he should've started, but Schneider gave the Phillies the lead in this one with a two-run homer

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Victorino finds the hole on the right side for a base hit to score Ruiz, 10-2

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Polanco flies to center to retire the side, but not before the Phils add two more to lead 10-2

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Romero now pitching

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Old usher chasing kids off the dugout. Classic

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Romero with a 1-2-3 eighth. We go to the ninth with the Phils up 10-2

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Rollins bangs one off the wall for a double to start the ninth, his second two-bagger of the day

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Karros suggests the offensive success the Phillies are having has been the result of facing weak pitching

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With one out, Rollins advances to third on a wild pitch

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Note to Matt Vasgersian, Philadelphia is in the eastern part of the United States but not in the eastern part of the world. The US is in the Western Hemisphere. I believe we are taught that in elementary school

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the ninth

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Baez now pitching

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Boscan goes down swinging, one away

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Uggla grounds to Howard, two down

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Heyward keeps the Braves alive with a double

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BALLGAME! Gonzalez pops to Polanco to end it, Phillies win 10-2. Ruiz busts it open with a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh and later added an RBI double. Scheider puts the Phils ahead to stay with a two-run homer in the fourth. Oswalt allows two runs in six innings to defeat the Braves for the first time in his career. Herndon, Romero, and Baez each tossed a scoreless inning in relief. Hamels vs. Lowe in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon

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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/Motion_Blur/ChoocHappy.gif

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Red Sox lose to the Yankees and are now 1-7

http://pictureperfectsandiego.com/files/2009/12/disney-chicken-little-sky-falling.jpg

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Apparently Lil Wayne had a concert in Atlanta and stayed at the same hotel as the Phillies last night. Hope he doesn't have the same effect on the Phils as he did on the Sixers a couple weeks ago

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Temperatures in Atlanta approaching 90 today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLhFIwkbtJI

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No Sarge today, he is in San Francisco presenting Buster Posey with his Rookie of the Year award. Sarge won it with the Giants in 1972

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Underway in the rubber match

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Victorino starts it off by slapping a single to left. Five straight games in which he's led off with a hit

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Victorino is erased as Polanco taps into a 6-4-3 double play. Gonzalez made a flip with his glove. Kind of unnecessary as the ball was hit close to the bag and there was plenty of time to get Victorino at second

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Rollins grounds to short to retire the side. J-Roll didn't get out of the box very well on that one. Hope it's nothing. Time for Hamels to go to work

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Wheels notes that the warmer temperatures will give Hamels a better feel for his changeup. Hamels immediately gets McLouth to chase a 3-2 changeup in the dirt. Wheels feels like a big man

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Three up, three down for Hamels in the first

[Jimmerz]

Wheels notes that the warmer temperatures will give Hamels a better feel for his changeup. Hamels immediately gets McLouth to chase a 3-2 changeup in the dirt. Wheels feels like a big man

yeah he gave a little laugh right after. what a ballbag.

[Jimmerz]

Tell us again where Sarge is. Wheels is jealous.

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Phils down in order in the second

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Tell us again where Sarge is. Wheels is jealous.

I'm sure Wheels would fit in quite well in San Fran. Just saying

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High sky today. Fly balls could be an adventure

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All McCann does is win. Or go down swinging leading off the second

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T-Mac doing his best to jinx Hamels against Uggla here

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The reverse black cat doesn't work this time as Uggla grounds to Polanco for the second out

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Heyward flies to Ibanez, Hamels has a 1-2-3 second

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Oswalt on getting Heyward to pop up with the bases loaded yesterday: "I was lucky I was able to get it in far enough"

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T-Mac, I believe the Lee Thomas quote was "You don't need a great closer when you never have the lead"

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Lowe's balls are really heavy today. And his sinker has some good drop to it

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Phils down in order in the third

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Less booth shots, please

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Sarge is in San Francisco in case you didn't hear

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Nine up, nine down for Hamels. Both pitchers sharp early, scoreless after three

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Victorino punches one the other way for a base hit to start the fourth. Second hit of the day, he's the only batter to reach base for either team thus far

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Wheels giving us a lecture on what hitting is all about. Guess he thinks he can get away with it today since Sarge isn't there. He's in San Francisco in case you didn't hear

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Polanco reaches down and drops one into left-center for a base hit. Took a while for Prado to get to it, which allows Victorino to get to third with no outs. Nice piece of two-strike hitting by Polanco and the Phillies have the first threat of the game

[Jimmerz]

I think he was getting to 3rd anyway there T-mac..

[Jimmerz]

Come on Jimmy with the DP shit.

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Rollins bounces into a 6-4-3 double play, but Victorino does score the game's first run

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Howard flies to center to retire the side, but the Phils do scratch out a run to lead 1-0 in the fourth

[Jimmerz]

Is Sarge in San Fran?

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McLouth is the first baserunner of the day for the Braves as he doubles over Ibanez's head with one out in the fourth. Ibanez was playing extremely shallow there

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McLouth advances to third after Jones flies to right, but McCann grounds back to Hamels to end the inning. On to the fifth, Phils lead 1-0

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Is Sarge in San Fran?

I forget. Maybe they'll remind us again soon

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Singles by Ibanez and Ruiz give the Phillies runners at first and second with one out in the fifth

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Martinez lines to short for the second out. Ruiz got caught off first, but the throw by Gonzalez hit him in the back

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Hamels chops one off the plate to Lowe to retire the side

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Halladay enjoys watching Hamels pitch. Apparently he likes to hear Hamels talk. A lot of "you know" in that interview

Camera shot in the dugout immediately after. Guess the camera guy thought it was Halladay but it was actually Ross Gload

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T-Mac and Wheels searching for more reasons why Hamels pitched poorly in his first start. Guys, sometimes it's possible to just not pitch well

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Hamels sets the Braves aside in order in the fifth, Phils still lead 1-0

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NO KA OI! Victorino starts the sixth with a towering homer to right and the Phillies lead 2-0

[Jimmerz]

Wow Shane is on fire!

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Nothing else happening for the Phils in the sixth, but Victorino's homer gives them a 2-0 lead

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Freeman gets fisted but bloops one into center for a single to start the sixth

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Lowe bunts Freeman up to second

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With two outs, McLouth walks to give the Braves a pair of baserunners

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Jones grounds to Polanco to end the inning, nice pick by Howard at first. On to the seventh with the Phils up 2-0

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No hurt for Lowe in the seventh after Ruiz singles with two outs

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Sarge is in San Francisco. That's right. I knew that

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McCann sends one to the track in center, but Victorino has it to start the seventh. Didn't look like McCann got a whole lot of that one, but it had some carry to it

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Singles by Heyward and Gonzalez give the Braves runners at the corners with two outs in the seventh. Hamels starting to labor out there

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Baez warming up

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Freeman grounds to Martinez and Hamels gets out of it. Probably the end of his day, Phils lead 2-0 after seven

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Venters now pitching for the Braves. Mayberry batting for Hamels

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Phils down in order in the eighth

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Madson now pitching

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Prado singles with one out, but he's erased as McLouth grounds into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. We go to the ninth with the Phils on top, 2-0

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Kimbrel now pitching for the Braves

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Rollins interrupts Wheels verbally fellating Kimbrel by roping one down the line to start the ninth, Heyward fumbles the ball and Rollins makes it to third. Scored a double and E-9

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Howard grounds to short, Rollins was running on contact and Gonzalez doesn't risk a throw home, 3-0

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After Francisco walks, Ibanez is rung up on a checkswing for the second out. Home plate ump Lance Barksdale doesn't ask for help, Ibanez lets him know he should have in no uncertain terms

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Francisco is picked off to retire the side. Phils get an unearned run in the ninth to lead 3-0. Contreras time

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Jones grounds to Martinez, one away

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Contreras throws a 2-1 splitter to McCann right down the middle for a ball, but he gets him to ground to second on the next pitch, two down

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BALLGAME! Uggla does down swinging to end it and the Phillies win, 3-0. They take two of three in Atlanta. Hamels goes seven shutout innings for the win, allowing four hits and striking out eight. Victorino had three hits, including a solo homer. Off day tomorrow, then it's off to Washington for three with the Nats starting Tuesday