Post by Fish Troll on May 26, 2007 10:49:20 GMT -5
Howard a big presence in Phils' win
Two-run double makes up for error, helps put Braves away
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Ryan Howard impacted Friday's game on both ends.
Returning to the cleanup spot for the first time since May 9, Howard gave away two runs with a sixth-inning throwing error, then put them back with a two-run double that helped ice an 8-3 win over the Braves at Turner Field.
After flying to deep right-center to end the third, he felt pretty good about his 10-pitch fight with Braves starter Tim Hudson, which included four two-strike foul balls. He also felt good about a seven-pitch strikeout that ended the fifth, and a hard lineout that ended the first.
"It felt great," Howard said. "To come back and hit a couple of balls on the screws and hit them right at folks after sitting for two weeks, it could've been easy to get down. The positive thing was having some great at-bats. Even the strikeout, I was seeing the ball the way I want to see it."
Agreeing, and fearing the big guy's .204 average wasn't representative of his swing on this night, the Braves intentionally walked Howard with one out and a runner on first in the seventh, a move that helped Philadelphia recover from an earlier blunder and retake the lead.
When Aaron Rowand worked a two-out walk and Greg Dobbs singled past a diving Scott Thorman for the game-winning runs, it served as a reminder of Howard's impact.
"Our lineup looks a whole lot better with him in it," manager Charlie Manuel said.
The Braves tested Howard in the ninth with two outs, two on and Michael Bourn on deck. Howard doubled in two insurance runs.
Howard's offense helped him overcome a fielding miscue that led to the tying runs scoring.
Leading 3-1 in the sixth, Jamie Moyer (5-3) began the frame by allowing singles to Kelly Johnson and Martin Prado. They were sacrificed over via a bunt by Chris Woodward before Jeff Francoeur then grounded to third with one out. Prado broke for third, but Johnson hesitated for a second in case third baseman Greg Dobbs looked in his direction.
Because Prado had advanced so far, Dobbs assumed Johnson was running on contact, and went to first, his only play.
After recording the second out, Howard bobbled the ball while spinning around. He had no chance at Johnson, then made things worse when his throw sailed wide of catcher Carlos Ruiz, allowing Prado to score the tying run.
"When you preset that in your mind, you go through what you're going to do in every situation," Dobbs said.
As Dobbs threw, the runners restarted. Howard hesitated, then threw wild, allowing Prado to follow Johnson across the plate for a 3-3 tie.
"I shouldn't have made a throw," Howard said. "I just tried to force the play. Next time, I'll just hold onto it.
The game didn't stay tied long, as the Phillies scored two runs on Dobbs' single and went to 11-2 in games when he starts.
"Hearing that, he'll probably be in there [Saturdeay]," Manuel said.
"Whatever good fortune comes my way, I'll take," Dobbs added.
Moyer made his own good fortune, recovering from two bad starts to befuddle the Braves for seven innings. He allowed five hits and one walk, and was charged with two earned runs. The 44-year-old beat the Braves for the second time in his career, 20 years and two days after the first time on May 23, 1987. He won that one in relief while pitching for the Cubs. He had never won in Atlanta and had lost six straight decisions to the Braves before Friday.
"He's still throwing that slop up there," Hudson said. "But it's tough to hit."
Michael Zagurski, who earlier in the day was recalled from Double-A Reading, pitched a perfect eighth inning, and Yoel Hernandez pitched the ninth.
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Two-run double makes up for error, helps put Braves away
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Ryan Howard impacted Friday's game on both ends.
Returning to the cleanup spot for the first time since May 9, Howard gave away two runs with a sixth-inning throwing error, then put them back with a two-run double that helped ice an 8-3 win over the Braves at Turner Field.
After flying to deep right-center to end the third, he felt pretty good about his 10-pitch fight with Braves starter Tim Hudson, which included four two-strike foul balls. He also felt good about a seven-pitch strikeout that ended the fifth, and a hard lineout that ended the first.
"It felt great," Howard said. "To come back and hit a couple of balls on the screws and hit them right at folks after sitting for two weeks, it could've been easy to get down. The positive thing was having some great at-bats. Even the strikeout, I was seeing the ball the way I want to see it."
Agreeing, and fearing the big guy's .204 average wasn't representative of his swing on this night, the Braves intentionally walked Howard with one out and a runner on first in the seventh, a move that helped Philadelphia recover from an earlier blunder and retake the lead.
When Aaron Rowand worked a two-out walk and Greg Dobbs singled past a diving Scott Thorman for the game-winning runs, it served as a reminder of Howard's impact.
"Our lineup looks a whole lot better with him in it," manager Charlie Manuel said.
The Braves tested Howard in the ninth with two outs, two on and Michael Bourn on deck. Howard doubled in two insurance runs.
Howard's offense helped him overcome a fielding miscue that led to the tying runs scoring.
Leading 3-1 in the sixth, Jamie Moyer (5-3) began the frame by allowing singles to Kelly Johnson and Martin Prado. They were sacrificed over via a bunt by Chris Woodward before Jeff Francoeur then grounded to third with one out. Prado broke for third, but Johnson hesitated for a second in case third baseman Greg Dobbs looked in his direction.
Because Prado had advanced so far, Dobbs assumed Johnson was running on contact, and went to first, his only play.
After recording the second out, Howard bobbled the ball while spinning around. He had no chance at Johnson, then made things worse when his throw sailed wide of catcher Carlos Ruiz, allowing Prado to score the tying run.
"When you preset that in your mind, you go through what you're going to do in every situation," Dobbs said.
As Dobbs threw, the runners restarted. Howard hesitated, then threw wild, allowing Prado to follow Johnson across the plate for a 3-3 tie.
"I shouldn't have made a throw," Howard said. "I just tried to force the play. Next time, I'll just hold onto it.
The game didn't stay tied long, as the Phillies scored two runs on Dobbs' single and went to 11-2 in games when he starts.
"Hearing that, he'll probably be in there [Saturdeay]," Manuel said.
"Whatever good fortune comes my way, I'll take," Dobbs added.
Moyer made his own good fortune, recovering from two bad starts to befuddle the Braves for seven innings. He allowed five hits and one walk, and was charged with two earned runs. The 44-year-old beat the Braves for the second time in his career, 20 years and two days after the first time on May 23, 1987. He won that one in relief while pitching for the Cubs. He had never won in Atlanta and had lost six straight decisions to the Braves before Friday.
"He's still throwing that slop up there," Hudson said. "But it's tough to hit."
Michael Zagurski, who earlier in the day was recalled from Double-A Reading, pitched a perfect eighth inning, and Yoel Hernandez pitched the ninth.
Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070525&content_id=1985497&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi
