Offense Powers Phils To Series Win

Last April the Phillies were dragging offensively, then the Astros came to town for a makeup game and the Phillies throttled them, 11-4. This year, with the Phils putting up some offensive stinkers lately, the Astros got yet another dose of that big hitting, as the Phils flew by the ‘Stros, 10-2.

It was an all-around slugfest for the offense. Chase Utley homered and drove in two. Ryan Howard homered and drove in two. Pat Burrell homered and drove in two. Chris Coste homered and drove in three. Geoff Jenkins doubled twice and drove in a run. Meanwhile, So Taguchi knocked two hits from the leadoff spot and Greg Dobbs got two hits in the two-hole. They scored early (three in the first) and often (in the third, fourth, sixth and eighth) and ran away with this one.

Brett Myers was strong, going seven easy innings and surrendering a home run to Miguel Tejada and four other hits. He struck out eight and walked one — a second-consecutive quality start.

Clay Condrey let Carlos Lee smash one out in the ninth; other than that, not much else to say. Eric Bruntlett went 0-for-5. Tom Gordon pitched a scoreless eighth.

With Philadelphia in the seventies today, the bats came alive in the daytime heat. A huge win, too, as the Phils can now look ahead to the big Mets series this weekend with a nice two-of-three from the Astros in the rearview.

Associated Press photo