Happ Dominates Padres

About a 90 mph fastball, and an average change-up. Yup, that's what J.A. Happ usually throws. He occasionally mixes in a cutter or a curveball but nothing overpowering. In three starts this year Happ has thrown a total of 18 1/3 innings and has only given up a total of five earned runs. How does he do it? I don't know and quite frankly, I don't care. According to Ricky Botallico, on Phillies pre-game live he says that Happ's fastball is "invisible" to hitters. Let's all just hope he can keep it going.
In the first inning, Ryan Howard got the Phillies off to another good start. He hit a two-run homerun to dead centerfield, to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Happ was dominating all night long. In seven strong innings Happ did not give up any runs and only allowed four hits. The Phillies tacked on another run in the fourth inning, then, in the seventh inning they broke the game open by scoring two more runs and going up 5-1.
Tonight was the game all season long that J.C. Romero was waiting for. The 51st game. Romero has served his 50 game suspension to the fullest and is back in action. Romero pitched the one and 1/3 innings and surrendered one unearned run. With good defense on his side J-Roll made a nice double play to get him out of the inning. Ryan Madson recorded the final two outs and the Phillies went on to win 5-1.
With the win over the Padres tonight, the Phillies added to there lead in the National League East and are in first place by three games over the New York Mets.
UP NEXT
Cole Hamels will get his turn in the rotation and he is looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Nationals. In his last start, Cole was never able to settle in. In six innings he gave up six runs over eight hits. Cole's location was off. He was leaving everything up just waiting to be hit. I'm sure he will bounce back against the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw will have the ball for the Dodgers. Kershaw last pitched agains the Rockies at hitter friendly Coors Field. He slated a quality start by only giving up three runs in six innings. Kershaw showed tremendous poise and it was a sign of growth for the lefty.