 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
He hadn't had many save opportunities. None since June 12.
That changed last night when Lidge picked up his 19th save in an 8-6 victory over the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark. It put the Phillies in position today to win their first series since they swept the Braves in Atlanta on June 6-8.
"I haven't had that kind of adrenaline in a while," said Lidge, who put runners at the corners with one out before striking out Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley to end the game. "We haven't been playing our best baseball, but the good news is we're still in first place.
"The last two days, we've been hitting the ball real well. Our offense comes out of it and we're going to keep pitching like we've been doing. Now I think we're going to start getting on a positive roll here."
The Phillies could use one. They've lost eight of their last 10 games, and 12 of their last 17. But, as Lidge said, they remain in first place in the National League East with a two-game lead over the Florida Marlins.
Lidge senses that the offense is beginning to turn things around. Time will tell. But the Phillies have scored 15 runs in their last two games. They had scored just 15 in their previous eight.
Chase Utley went 3 for 5 with two doubles and a home run, his first homer since June 13. He is hitting .444 (8 for 18) in his last four games. Ryan Howard hit a two-run home run, his first homer since June 16. Jayson Werth had two RBIs.
The Phillies scored three runs in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead, thanks to a Howard walk and consecutive singles by Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz and Werth. It's the first time the Phillies had hits in three consecutive at-bats since June 13, when they collected four in a row in the eighth inning of a 20-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
That's 12 games without stringing together three hits.
"It's about time," manager Charlie Manuel said.
"It's definitely a good sign of trying to get the bats going," Howard said. "It's one of those things where the entire team went into a lull all at the same time. You don't really see that too often, but we did. But the thing for us is try to get out of it."
They got help from Cole Hamels, who pitched well though he allowed four runs in seven innings.
But it's the offense that keeps this team winning. The Phillies hope the last two games are a sign.
Lidge thinks they are.
|
|
|
|
|
|
REGIONAL SCOREBOARD
Latest Sports Blogs
TOP STORIES
today's poll
express headlines
Promotions
photo GALLERY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
email this
print this
reprint or license this
Buy tickets online
