Phils Take Three From Reds

Despite losing a heart breaker on Tuesday, the Phillies welcomed a lowly team into the Bank and did the job. Winning three of four versus the Reds, the Phils kept some distance on the Marlins, Braves, and Mets. The offense lit up, didn't show up, then showed up, and then out swung the Reds. Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, and Chase Utley had incredible series's.

Monday - Phillies won 22-1: 22 runs. That's all I really need to say but I'll throw in a few stats. Cole Hamels pitched well and got the offensive support he needed, even from himself. Rollins, Utley, and Werth all homered. Rollins went 3-4 with a few runs and an RBI, Utley had a pair of hits with four RBI's, Werth went 2-5 with five RBI's and Greg Dobbs had four hits. Hamels 2-4 with a two-run double.

Tuesday - Reds won 4-3: After going up 3-0, JA Happ got beaten by Brandon Phillips, who had two homers and three RBI's. The losing blow came at the expense of Brad Lidge as he coughed up the winning hits in the top of the tenth. Utley had three hits in the losing effort.

Wednesday - Phillies won 3-2: The Flyin' Hawaiian got over the hump in his All Star bid as his walk-off single scored in Pedro Feliz in the bottom of the ninth. Shane Victorino and Dobbs had two hits and Werth hit a solo homer.

Thursday - Phillies won 9-6: The Reds took the early lead 3-0 and later broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run fifth. The Phillies answered in the bottom half with four runs and did not look back. Utley and Werth both had a pair of hits and homered, Utley's being a stand-up inside-the-parker that caromed off the left-centerfield wall. Feliz and Rollins also added a pair of hits. Lidge notched his 17th save.

Series MVP's:

Jimmy Rollins (PHI): 7-17; 6 runs; double; 2RBI's; .524 OBP

Chase Utley (PHI): 7-17; 2 runs; 2 doubles; 2 homers; 6 RBI's

Jayson Werth (PHI): 6-15; 5 runs; 4 homers; 9 RBI's

Next Series: Pittsburgh Pirates (38-47; 12-29 on road) @ Philadelphia Phillies (44-38; 18-23 at home)

This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. The next will be at the end of August.The Phillies are playing good baseball going into their final series before the break, winning six of their last seven games. They are 6-1 on this current home stand despite the season-long struggles at the Bank.

The Pirates are just a lowly baseball team and are thankful every year that the Washington Nationals exist. They have lost seven of their last 10 and don't seem to be anywhere near catching fire going into the break. I expect a series sweep by the Phillies and I will not tolerate a loss of any sorts.

Everything has been going right for the Phillies. Starting pitching has been good and will hopefully get better if the Phillies add some arms in Pedro Martinez and Roy Halladay at the expense of maybe losing Happ. Happ will most likely be a part of a trade with Halladay if they can pry Doc from Toronto so his last start as a Phillie could be nearing.

The offense has been good. Sure they had back to back games of only scoring three runs but they were book ended by 22 and nine-run efforts. The bull pen has been very rock solid despite Lidge's inconsistency but he re-established that in Thursdays win with a save.

Pitching Probables:

7/11: Duke (8-7, 3.28), Blanton (5-4, 4.69)

7/12: Ohlendorf (7-7, 4.63), Hamels (5-5, 4.70)

7/13: Vasquez, V (1-2, 4.50), Happ (5-0, 3.04)