Moyer, Kendrick help Phillies exact some World Series revenge

With the way their road trip started, I'm sure everyone is happy that the Phillies somehow earned a 3-3 split in Boston and New York.

After getting crushed by the Red Sox 12-2 and 10-2 last weekend, the Phillies looked like a team on the brink of a complete collapse. Thanks to Cole Hamels, the Phillies at least managed to salvage at least one win in Boston but things weren't going to get any easier for the Phillies as they had to travel to Yankee Stadium, the scene of their 2009 World Series failure.

After supposed Yankee killer Roy Halladay got roughed up in the first game, all seemed glum for the Phillies as they turned to soft tossers Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick, who figured to get eaten alive by the patient Yankee hitters. No one, not even the most optimistic Phillies fan, could have predicted what would happen next.

First, Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher ever to beat the Yankees after he pitched 8 innings of 3 hit ball. Coupled with a Shane Victorino 3-run triple and back to back homers by Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth and we started seeing a glimpse of the old Phillies.

Of course, if Wednesday night was just a glimpse at the old Phillies, Thursday night was their triumphant return. Backed by Kyle Kendrick's best performance of the season and some amazing defense, the Phillies routed the Yankees, 7-1. It was easily the most well-rounded game the Phillies have played in a long while, from stellar glove work by Placido Polanco and Jose Contreras to some masterful situational hitting in the 9th inning that allowed the Phils to tack on 4 insurance runs and seal the deal.

So, as unlikely as it sounds, behind the pitching performances of Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick the Phillies took 2 out of 3 against the Yankees and won their first series since taking 2 out of 3 against the Marlins back in late May. While they still have some work to do to get themselves atop the NL East where they belong, this series against the Yankees just might just end up being the turning point that gets the Phillies pointed back in the right direction.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)