Phillies take a 7-1 victory over the Yankees

Howard picked up two rbi's including the games first run.

The Phillies finally are starting to look like the NL Champs after taking the final two games of their inter league series with the Yankees.  The Phillies offense lit up the scoreboard in both games with a combined 17 runs.  Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick both provided great pitching.  Kendrick allowed 1 run in 7 dominate innings.  Moyer became the oldest pitcher ever to defeat the Yankees.  I think the only modern player that will have a chance at that is Tim Wakefield.  He gets to face them multiple times in a season, unless he moves out of Boston.  Well, now to the highlights.

Let me start off by saying, Shane Victorino had one heck of a game.  He launched a home run in the 5th inning.  He also played fine defense, expect to see him on Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays.  Shortly before Victorino's big blast, Ryan Howard picked up his 1st rbi with a base hit, scoring the once again amazing Victorino (as I continue to talk him up).

The next bit of scoring came in the 6th when Kendrick started to get rattled.  He had two down in the inning, but the red hot Robinson Cano got one through, up the middle, to score 1B Mark Teixeira.  This was the only time in the game Kendrick wasn't lights out.  He gave up only 4 hits, 2 in the 6th.  The 4 hits Kendrick gave up were the only ones the Phils bullpen were gonna let them have.  In the 8th inning Jose Contreras pitched a 1-2-3 inning.  He also retired A-Rod (A-Roid) in the 9th.  Contreras has been lights out all season.  Amaro's 1.5 million has gone a long way.

It wasn't until the 9th inning the Phillies bust it open.  Kendrick and Contreras both pitched with a slim 2 run cushion.  Carlos Ruiz got it going against Joba Chamberlain with his double.  The shortstop, Wilson Valdez brought him around to score.  At this point, the Phillies were getting in his head.  Valdez swiped second shortly before Victorino drew a walk.  Joba retire a batter.  The Yankees, called on lefty specialist Damasco Marte.  He to did not do much to improve the Yankees chance of winning.  He walked Utley to load the bases.  Polanco and Howard both got it done, as they hit back to back sacrifice flies.  Raul Ibanez kept the rally going.  He brought Utley to the plate by hitting a double off former Phil Chan Ho Park.

Other News

• Pedro Martinez is talking to the Phillies about a contract.
• Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher to beat the Phillies after his 6-3 victory Thursday
• Chase Utley and Placido Polanco exchanged their spots in the lineup.  Utley batted second with Polanco right after him.
• JA Happ is currently in AA Reading on his rehab assignment.  The Phillies team doctors say he is making slow and steady progress towards coming back.  Happ has spent majority of 2010 on the DL