Raul Does What He Does Best

The Phillies could of easily gave this game up. This was the last game of a 10 game road trip. They could of easily been satisfied by going 6-4, but they never gave up. They were down 3-1 going into the sixth inning and things just didn't seem like they were going the Phillies way tonight. Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard were struggling, and it didn't look good. Yet again, the Phillies showed a lot of character and battled back and ended up winning the game and took two out of three from there arch nemesis the New York Mets.
Tim Redding has always been good against the Phillies. Tonight was no different. Redding was dominating the Phillies the whole game. In the sixth and seventh, the Phillies managed to tie the game up at three. Jamie Moyer exited after six innings and he had a quality start. He was blistered last start at Citi Field, but Jamie has really bounced back and now we are seeing the Jamie that we all know and love.
Clay Condrey came in and pitched two scoreless innings. Then, Chad Durbin came in and Durbin has had some problems late in game but tonight he got the first two batter outs. Then Scott Eyre came in and this was Eyre's 600th career game. Eyre got one out on two pitches. In the 10th Raul Ibanez hit a three run homerun to give the Phillies a 6-3 lead. Ryan Madson flourished in his new role again with a save to clinch the series win over the Mets.
2009 MLB DRAFT
The 2009 MLB draft is complete. It took three days, 50 rounds, and 1521 picks. The Phillies didn't have a pick until the second round. With the 75th pick in the draft, the Phillies selected Kelly Dugan from Notre Dame High School in California. Dugan is a switch hitting centerfielder that was originally going to go to Pepperdine University, but since the Phillies drafted him, he will play in their farm system. The Phillies have already agreed to a contract deal with Dugan. It was the 18-year-old's mental qualities that caught the organization's attention. The Phillies really love his makeup and believe that he can achieve what he's suppose to achieve.
UP NEXT
The Phillies will open up interleague play at Citizens Bank Park and will welcome the Boston Red Sox to town. The Phillies have always struggled against the Red Sox, and the Phillies certainly don't have the favorable pitching match-ups on paper. Joe Blanton will pitch for the Phillies, and Blanton has pitched much better recently. In his last three starts, Blanton is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA. One of the best left-handers in baseball will pitch for the Red Sox. John Lester, he has already thrown a no-hitter, he was close to a no-hitter in his last start, and did I mention he's only 25. Lester has faced the Phillies once before. Last year Lester pitched seven scoreless innings against the Phillies.
This is the time each year where the Phillies usually start to struggle. This will be a huge test for the Phillies. It always seems like American League pitching always beats National League hitting. Having Raul Ibanez should help because he is coming over from the American League and he has faced most of these guys that the Phillies will face.