Series Thoughts: Philthies / Series Preview: Mutts

May 11, 2009 at 7:07 pm by Capitol Avenue Club under Atlanta Braves, New York Mutts, Philadelphia Philthies, Series Preview, Series Thoughts

Again we win a series in Philly, although we didn’t play as well as we did in the first series.  We lost the first game behind Reyes’s terrible outing.  He gave up 8 runs (only 4 were earned because of 2 errors in 1 inning, 1 by Escobar and 1 by Reyes, both on routine plays).  Anyway, we pretty much didn’t have a chance after that and never really threatened to come close to the 10 runs they eventually scored.  Kotchman hit a 3-run blast off Lidge in the 9th, but that would only make us 4 runs away, and we lost 10-6.

Vazquez was vintage in the 2nd game striking out 7 in 7 and 2/3 innings while allowing 4 hits (2 home runs) and 2 runs (both earned) while walking none.  The offense scratched across 6 runs, McCann and Escobar both hit 2-run homers.  We used Gonzalez in the 9th to protect a 4-run lead for some reason, which pissed me off because he’d been used 3 of the past 4 days.  And it turns out, he’d be needed the following day, so he’s now pitched on 5 of the past 6 days including 2 in a row.  And he won’t be available for the first game against the Mets and Santana.  A starter that we’ve needed a closer against every time we’ve faced him last year.

Anyway, in game 3 Kawakami labored through 6 innings of 2-run ball.  He looked  sub-optimal and really struggled, but 2 runs in 6 innings is a quality start nonetheless.  The Braves got 3 RBI’s from Kotchman and 1 from Garret Anderson.  The bullpen shut them down.  O’Flaherty pitched the 7th, Gonzo the 8th because Howard, Ibanez, and Stairs were due, and Soriano the 9th.  The Braves won 4-2.

Looking forward to the Mutts series, we’ll face them for 3 games in our first trip to Citi Field.  Interestingly, we’re matched up perfectly.  #1 vs. #1, #2 vs. #2, and #5 vs. #5.  Unfortunately, their #1 is named Johan Santana and ours is named something else.  Jurrjens should have the edge over Pelfrey and we have no idea what to expect out of Niese, but he’s been terrible at AAA so I like our chances to take 2/3 from the Mutts.  It’d sure make me happy.

Having McCann back is so huge.  He really is our only good, young player.  The way he takes pitches and works the count is unique on our team and universal on most good teams.  Although Kotchman has been taking a lesson or 2 from him recently.

Hopefully we’ll put it together a good series and upset the Mutts’ winning streak.  I hate the Mets.

Game’s about to be on.

It’d be great to take 4/6 from the Mutts and Philthies on the road and get back to 500 in the process.