Tagged: Carlos Ruiz

Joe Blanton Throws a Gem; Lidge Makes Save; Drabek Done for Season

How many Phillies fans nervously watched Lidge go to the mound? But no need for stress! Lidge did it. He closed the game, and the Phillies split the series with a 3-2 win over the Braves, remaining 8 games ahead of Atlanta.

(And how nice is it to play Atlanta and not hear that grows-really-Really-old-FAST Hatchet Song? I honestly don’t know how even the Braves or their fans can stand it after all this time.)

Joe Blanton did a great job in 7 innings. He pounded the strike zone with success. Big Joe is also Dependable Joe.

Carlos Ruiz goes 3 for 3 with two doubles. Mighty Chooch.

And the defense did a great job behind Blanton.

In minor league news, Kyle Drabek’s season is over, the apparent reason being that it’s been deemed that he’s pitched enough innings in his post-Tommy John year.

By the way, the next game will be played in September. Wow.

 

Phillies Win: It’s Chooch and Philly’s CC Day at Yankee Stadium

That’s Chooch, as in Carlos Ruiz, and CC as in Clay Condrey, Philly’s own CC. They were miracle workers today as they delivered a win for the Phils.

It was a great game – but, yes, it was also a rather STRESSFUL one, too. Geez, my head still hurts.

Anyhow,  Carlos is the heralded hero of the day. He’s hit .400 over the last seven games. Today, he nailed his trying-to-steal-prey with blisteringly accurate throws, and successfully blocked home plate, as well. And his double along the third base line came just at the right time.

But don’t forget Philly’s CC – and yes, I mean Clay Condrey. The double play basically got him out of a jam, and he pitched 2 great innings. He came into a stressful situation, giving the game balance and stability – just what the Phils needed.

So the Yankee fans quieted down (gotta love that) and the Phillies won the series, 2 games out of 3. And did you notice the Phillies did not have ‘excessive celebration’ at the end of the game like the Yankees did yesterday? They’re a classy team. Good for them.

One last thought: Lidge will be ok. You can take that to the bank.

Carlos Ruiz, Phillies vs Dodgers, and the 9th  Inning

It’s been two games in a row that the Phillies have seemed listless, and maybe even a tad out of sync with each other.

There’s been errors on a team that doesn’t make many errors – fielders zoning in too close and seemingly without proper communication with each other, too many strike outs, and base running mistakes. It hasn’t been exactly pretty ball playing this week.

So just now, while I was glumly watching the 9th inning of today’s game, what happens? Carlos Ruiz comes up to bat, and who hits a double? Carlos. Can you believe it?

When you come to think of it, the 9th inning is a metaphor. When will we learn? Never, ever count out the Phils, even when things don’t seem right.

So…it’s on to the tenth inning.  God help my nerves.We need to win this game.