A Giant Step Backwards

July was a phenomenal month for the Phillies as they went 20-7. But now comes August and it seems as it the Phillies finally cooled down. Cliff Lee's amazing debut saved the Phillies from getting swept as they couldn't figure out the Giants starting pitching, losing three of the four-game series. This was their first series loss since the beginning of July.

Thursday - Giants won 7-2: Rodrigo Lopez got hammered in the fourth as he gave up a total of seven runs, three earned, in his short outing. Pablo Sandoval hit a homer and had four RBI's and Eugenio Velez drove in three. The Phillies offense could only muster five hits on Jonathon Sanchez.

Friday - Phillies won 5-1: Lee made his debut and pitched a complete game, allowing a run on four hits and two walks, striking out six. He also had a pair of hits including one off the wall in left-center. Lee got support from Jayson Werth's two hits, including his solo homer in the second, and three RBI's.

Saturday - Giants won 2-0: Tim Lincecum pitched another stellar game as he out matched Joe Blanton. Aaron Rowand scored on a Juan Uribe sacrifice fly in the fifth to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Sunday - Giants won 7-3: Cole Hamels officially has been the Phillies worst starter of the season. After a great start, he fell apart in the fifth and sixth, allowing seven runs, six earned. Jimmy Rollins and Ben Francisco had a pair of hits including Rollins' solo shot in the fourth.

Series MVP's:

Cliff Lee - CG, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6K; batting: 2-4, double

Tim Lincecum - 8 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 8 K; batting: 1-2

Eugenio Velez - 7-17, 3 R, double, 5 RBI

Next Series: Colorado Rockies (58-47; 31-26 on road) @ Philadelphia Phillies (59-44; 27-25 at home)

The Phillies lead the series 2-1 (last played in April). Despite a crappy road trip where the Phillies went 3-7 (lost four of last five), the Phillies will come back home where they have seemed to have found their groove.

The Rockies have been playing tremendous baseball as of late and are riding a four-game win streak. Their offense is second in the NL in runs scored only behind the Phillies. The Rockies pitching is sixth while the Phillies are twelfth.

It can't be said what kind of Phillies team you'll see in Philly versus Colorado. The offense could be working the count and the pitching could be good but at the same time, you could see Jamie Moyer give up a ton of runs and the offense look just as terrible in the past seven games. The Phillies will get a needed day off and hope to rebound.

Pitching Probables:

Tuesday: COL: Hammel (5-6, 4.66), PHI: Moyer (10-7, 5.32)
Wednesday: COL: De La Rosa, J (9-7, 4.68), PHI: Happ (7-2, 2.97)

Thursday: COL: Cook (10-3, 3.88), PHI: Lee, Cl (8-9, 3.02)