The Phillies pitching was continually mentioned as the thing that would hold back the Phillies this season, but in the last few games, the offense has failed while the pitching has come through. Kyle Kendrick, who has been nothing short of terrible this season, pitched a gem by his standards, going 7 innings, striking out 5 batters, and giving up only 2 runs on 4 hits. Unfortunately, the Phillies were unable to muster any offense off Astros ace Roy Oswalt, and they ended up losing the game 2-1.Kendrick started shaky, giving up a run in the first inning, before settling in and pitching easily his best game of the season. Besides a homer by former Phillie Michael Bourn of all people, Kendrick was lights out from the second inning on.
The Phillies desperately need Jimmy Rollins back. Without the sparkplug at the top of the line-up, the whole offensive engine is barely firing. Ryan Howard drove in the only Phils run in the first inning, and the bats were silent for the rest of the game. The Phillies managed only six hits in the game, and the only one that went for more than a single was a Chase Utley double in the 3rd inning. Rollins is still expected to miss a few more days, so we will have to watch guys like Pedro Feliz, with his sparkling .226 average, near the top of the order a little while longer.
The Phillies look to win the series against the Astros tomorrow afternoon, as they will send out Brett Myers against Brandon Backe. Hopefully the Phillies take care of business and don't look ahead to this weekend's matchup with the Mets.
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