For 46 years, the boys in Baseballtown (Reading, Pa) proudly wore the Phillies Red, White and Blue.  For 46 years, they were a AA minor league affliate for the Philadelphia Phillies.  And, for 46 years, they were called the Reading Phillies.

Today, that changed.

Baseballtown still proudly wears Phillies pinstripes.

Reading still houses the Phillies AA team.  (Tied for the longest affiliation in baseball.)

They are no longer the Reading Phillies.

The name jump is huge.  I have no idea where their new name came from. (Yes, that is sarcasm.)

The Reading Phillies are now…

(wait for it..)

» Continue reading “Good-Bye Reading Phillies, Hello…”

Last night, the Reading Phillies took on Bowie Baysox and though the Phillies AA team lost, Jiwan James made the highlight reel.  He actually made it in the number one spot in ESPN’s Top 10.

Watch it and be amazed!  Take note of the loss of glove.

Vance Worley - Photo credit: myPHL17.com

Sunday afternoon the Phillies were looking to win their seventh game in a row and sweep the Milwaukee Brewers. But it didn’t happen.  The Brewers had lost five games in a row including two to their division rivals St. Louis Cardinals, so they desperately needed a win. The Cards are six games back from the Brewers in the NL Central Division, but the Cards are surging after sweeping the Atlanta Braves and are hot on the Brewers’ trail.

So the Brewers were determined to win yesterday and they did.  Starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo only allowed the Phillies three hits, which two came off of solo home runs by Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, respectively in the sixth inning.  Up until that point he had held them to just a single hit.  On the other hand, Vance Worley gave up eight hits and three runs.

Worley went 6.2 innings and struck out seven.  Fellow rookie Michael Schwimer took over for Worley in the seventh and managed to get Prince Fielder to strikeout. David Herndon pitched the eighth.

But the Phillies who were down 3-2 heading into the ninth, couldn’t muster up a rally to at least tie it.  Jimmy Rollins pinched for the second game in a row, and sadly he struck out both times.  But with Pete Orr and Michael Martinez both on base, pinch hitter John Bowker was given the chance to bring a run home.  Obviously that didn’t happen and I must gripe because Bowker is turning out to be a complete bust.  He’s been used as a pinch hitter in four games so far as a Phillie and has yet to log a hit.  Not one of the Phillies better pick-up moves, that’s for sure.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Brewers – 9/11/11 Game

Phillies Notes:

Wilson Valdez sat out in Sunday’s game because he pulled a hamstring in Saturday’s game.

Valdez said he could play if needed, but he doesn’t want to blow out the hamstring and miss a significant period of time. Michael Martinez got the start at shortstop Sunday.  Valdez said he has no plans to get a MRI. – Phillies.com

On Sunday evening, the Reading Phillies were eliminated in the Eastern League Eastern Division Championship series.  The New Hampshire Fisher Cats won 4-2 and took Game Four to win the best-of-five.  Box Score can be found here.

Tonight, the Phillies begin a 3-game series in Houston against the Astros.  This will be former Astro Hunter Pence‘s first trip back to the stadium he used to call home. The Phillies will be versing two of their former pitchers, Brett Myers and J.A. Happ, while the Astros face their former teammate, Roy Oswalt.

Check out Monday’s game preview after the jump…

» Continue reading “Vanimal Denied, No Sweep For Phillies”

Hunter Pence - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

It took 10 innings on Saturday night for the Phillies to come out victorious against the Brewers.  And the Phillies are now only 7-games away from clinching their fifth straight National League East Division title.

Was it an easy game to win?  Nope.  The Phillies/Brewers were tied at 2-2 by the fifth inning and it stayed that way until the 10th when Raul Ibanez hit a double then Carlos Ruiz hit an RBI-single, on a bunt no less.  Game over Phils won 3-2.  Which made it six victories in a row for the Fightins’.

Cliff Lee saw his 30 and 2/3 scoreless innings streak come to an end when Yuniesky Betancourt hit an RBI-single in the second.  And in the fourth Ryan Braun singled, Prince Fielder doubled then Casey McGehee grounded out, but Braun scored, putting the Brewers up 2-1.  Lee pitched seven innings, allowed six hits, two runs, walked two, and struck out seven.

Reliever Brad Lidge pitched the eighth and Michael Stutes pitched the ninth, neither gave up a run.  Closer Ryan Madson took over the 10th.  Though he walked two, he kept them from scoring and got his 30th save of the season.

Hunter Pence hit his 19th homer in the first inning and Placido Polanco hit his fifth in the fifth inning.

Jimmy Rollins didn’t start the game but pinched for Wilson Valdez in the tenth, then remained in the game at shortstop.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Brewers – 9/10/11 Game

Phillies Notes:

Chase Utley got good news in regards to his concussion.  However, his return is unlikely to happen in the next week.

Concussion specialist Rob Franks examined Utley at Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, where he administered an ImPACT test. The results showed Utley near his baseline test, which he took in Spring Training. That has allowed Utley to begin exercising to see how he responds to exertion. Utley will have a follow up ImPACT test Monday, when Franks will reevaluate him. – Phillies.com

Congratulations to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs! Last night they advanced to the Governors’ Cup Finals by sweeping the Pawtucket Red Sox in a three games.  You can read the recap here: Laugh Cheer Oink IronPigs Top Paw-Sox

The Reading Phillies lost last night to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by a score of 1-0.  The Fisher Cats took a 2-1 lead in the best of five series.  Box score can be found here.  Game four is tonight at 6:05 pm EDT.

Check out this afternoon’s game preview after the jump….

» Continue reading “Phillies Cool the Once Hot Brewers”

Ryan Howard - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

The Phillies beat the Brewers last night with a score of 5-3 and their magic number to clinch the National League East is now 9 and to be guaranteed a playoff berth, the number is 3!

The Phillies took full advantage of Milwaukee’s Shaun Marcum‘s mistakes in the first inning.  After both Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence singled, Ryan Howard hammered a 3-run shot to right field.  It was also Howard’s 32nd homer of the season.  With a 3-0 lead, the offense gave Roy Halladay a nice lead to work with.

And Halladay dominated for most of the game.  In eight innings pitched, he only gave up four hits, one run, walked three, and struck out nine.  And with those nine strikeouts, Halladay joined Cliff Lee in the 200 strikeout club for this season.  In fact, Halladay reached 204 last night.

Though Halladay gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh, it wasn’t until the ninth when closer Ryan Madson took over for Antonio Bastardo, that the Brewers tacked on two more runs.  Bastardo had given up a single to Prince Fielder and walked Casey McGehee.  So when Madson came into the game, both of those players ended up scoring thanks to an RBI-single by Yuniesky Betancourt and on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Lucroy.  But it wasn’t enough, because the Phillies had secured their lead in the top of the seventh, with RBI’s by both Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz.

Madson still recorded the save, his 29th of the season and Halladay collected his 17th win.

Complete Box Score Phillies/Brewers – 9/9/11 Game

Phillies Notes:

Chase Utley who suffered a concussion in Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves, is still in Philadelphia.

He is expected to take an ImPACT test Saturday, which will tell Utley and Phillies medical staff the severity of the concussion.  Reports Utley has a “mild” concussion have been inaccurate, because the test is the only way to determine the severity of a concussion. Reports Utley suffered a headache before leaving the game Wednesday also have been inaccurate. He suffered no headache. - Phillies.com

Jimmy Rollins though off the disabled list, hasn’t played yet.

(Charlie) Manuel said Rollins could be back in the field in four or five days, but he is reluctant to offer a timetable because if he doesn’t return next week there will be “knee-jerk reactions.” – Phillies.com

On Friday night, the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs took a 2-0 lead in the playoffs against Pawtucket Red Sox.  Its a best of five series so Pawtucket is on the brink of elimination.  Box Score can be found here.  Next game is tonight at 6:10 pm EDT.

Double-A Reading Phillies, who lost their opening game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday night in the 2011 Eastern League Eastern Division Championship Series, tied it up last night with a decisive 11-2 victory.  Box Score can be found here. Next game is tonight at 7:05 pm EDT.

Check out Saturday night’s game preview after the jump…

» Continue reading “Phillies Keep Rolling Along”