A good game to miss: Phillies lose 8-2

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

If no one watched it, did the Phillies really lose? In a game that was blacked out across the country, the Phillies fell to the Giants 8-2. It was the first time since June 2006 that the Phillies game wasn't on, and it wasn't a bad game to have missed.

The Giants young ace Tim Lincecum shut down the Phillies lineup, going 8 innings and giving up only four hits. He did give up two runs on solo homers by Ryan Howard and Chris Coste, but other than that the Phillies never really challenged Lincecum, who also struck out 8 batters. The only other Phillie hits were singles by Greg Dobbs and Geoff Jenkins.

Jamie Moyer started the game for the Phillies and was out-dueled by a pitcher nearly half his age. Moyer went 4 innings and was shelled for 9 hits and 6 runs. The weak Giants lineup managed two home runs off Moyer, including one by former Phillie Aaron Rowand.

Besides Howard hitting a home run, there wasn't much to see here for Phillies fans. Howard also didn't strike out today, so maybe the game that no one saw ends up being the game that turns his season around.

Highlights of the game you couldn't watch via ESPN: