J.A. Happ is not known for blowing people away with a 99mph fastball but when this guy hits his spots, he is as good as someone who has that kind of heater. Yesterday he had another impressive outing to help the Phillies beat the Twins, 5-4.
Pitching....Happ has made every indication that he is ready for a full season in the Phillies starting rotation. Yesterday, he threw four scoreless innings. He have up only a lead-off hit and nothing else. He also struck out three. People say it is his deceptive delivery that keeps hitters guessing...and they still can't pick him up. Some good news for the bullpen...Chad Durbin threw a scoreless inning and struck out one, Ryan Madson struck out two in an inning and Jose Contreras struck out one in his inning of work. Antonio Bastardo had a rough day...gave up four runs on five hits but only three of them were earned. Danys Baez picked up the save...he walked one, surrendered one hit and struck out two. So other than Bastardo's rough day, the Phillies relievers did a really solid job.
Hitting...The Phillies finally got a run on the board in the 5th on a solo dinger by Ben Francisco. The Phils had opportunies with men on base in the previous innings but could not capitalize. After the Twins scored four in the sixth, the Phils came back with a run in the sixth and then in the bottom of the seventh, Cody Ransom hit a three-run homer to make it a 5-4 game. Not much noise from the Phillies hitters in the game...Ryan Howard was 1-for-3 with an rbi and two strikeouts. J-Roll went 1-for-2 with a walk and Victorino went 1-for-3. Nothing from Ibanez or Werth.
In the field...Shane Victorino misplayed a ball in center that were tabbed to Antonio Bastardo's line.
BOX
Another impressive outing by Phillies pitchers but the hitters have not seemed to get into a groove. After falling to 1-3-1 on the spring a week ago, the Phillies have won four straight and are now 5-3-1.
Up next...Kyle Kendrick continues his fight for a spot in the rotation as he takes the hill against the Orioles at 1:05 today. Andrew Carpenter and Sergio Escalona are also scheduled to pitch.
Notes...The Phillies sent 14 players to minor league camp...Phillippe Aumont, Yohan Flande, Scott Mathieson, Drew Naylor, J.C. Ramirez, Jesus Sanchez, Joe Savery and Bill White; catchers Tuffy Gosewisch, Kevin Nelson and John Sumoi; infielder Freddy Galvis; and outfielders Quintin Berry and Tyson Gillies
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