Phils' Moyer makes his case

TAMPA, Fla. - After three off-season surgeries, Jamie Moyer came to spring training fighting for a job in his 24th season in the majors.

"I didn't really know what to expect, because I haven't been through this kind of thing in the past," Moyer said. "So, you know what? Go wing it. See what happens."

It's working.

The 47-year-old lefthander all but guaranteed his spot as the fifth starter in the Phillies' rotation with a dominating effort last night.

Facing a New York Yankees lineup filled with regulars except Jorge Posada and Nick Johnson, Moyer cruised. He allowed just two base runners over 62/3 innings and struck out six. He walked none. The Phillies won, 3-0.

Moyer retired the final 15 batters he faced.

"He looked pretty good, didn't he?" Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He threw good quality strikes down. Even when he missed, he was close. He dropped a little yo-yo on them."

Manuel declined to name Moyer the fifth starter, but everything suggests he will earn the job. Early in the spring, pitching coach Rich Dubee anointed Moyer the favorite. Dubee said he did that because of Moyer's track record. Moyer has won 258 games over 23 seasons. He is also due to make $8 million in 2010.

But Kyle Kendrick has been impressive enough this spring to raise doubts. Over 192/3 innings, he has a 1.37 ERA. Throw in that the Phillies removed Moyer from the starting rotation in mid-season 2009 and his hold on the spot looked precarious.

Moyer has dispelled those doubts.

"I've never felt at any time there was urgency to do anything," he said. "Or prove anything. Or work out in a certain way. You just try and monitor every day for what it is and take it from there."

Against the Yankees, he pitched at a steady pace. He needed just 79 pitches, and no more than 16 in any one inning.

He allowed a single to Marcus Thames, the second batter of the game. That was New York's only hit. The other batter to reach base was Curtis Granderson, who was hit by a pitch in the second on a 1-0 count.

It was Moyer's second Grapefruit League appearance. In 112/3 innings, he has allowed one run. He also started three B games earlier in the spring. Two were three-inning scoreless outings. In the other, his lone hiccup this spring, Moyer allowed five runs on eight hits in three innings.

Expect to see him in the rotation.

"It doesn't surprise me," Manuel said of Moyer's performance. "I've seen him go to the minor leagues twice and you think he's done, and he fought his way back to become a heck of a pitcher. When he came to spring training this year, I expected him to be in pretty good shape and working hard. Nothing's changed. It's who he is."

Not concerned about Bastardo. Dubee said he isn't troubled by another rocky outing by lefty Antonio Bastardo on Thursday. Bastardo entered in the eighth inning against Houston and allowed a single to Pedro Feliz and walked Kevin Cash. Chris Shelton, a righthander, then hit a three-run home run to left.

Dubee said Bastardo has fallen into the group of pitchers who are in a dead-arm period, which is normal, he said.

"His breaking ball's gotten loopy," Dubee said. "It doesn't have the lateness and crispness it usually has. But so have a lot of other people. Nothing startling."

Bastardo, the lone lefthanded reliever still in camp, has allowed seven runs (six earned) this spring. All the runs were scored in two appearances. He hasn't allowed a run in his four other games.

Extra bases. Raul Ibanez left the game in the seventh inning after being hit on the right arm by a pitch. . . . Cole Hamels will start for the Phillies today in Fort Myers against Minnesota. The Phils are taking a skeleton lineup, with no regulars making the 130-mile bus trip south.