Moyer the Stopper
Leave it Jamie Moyer to come through in the clutch. It was like he was back pitching an NL-East clinching game – when you needed him the most, he came through. Moyer allowed just two solo homers and an additional hit in his superb eight-inning outing. Brad Lidge came on in the ninth to strike out the side, but not before allowing two hits and a run himself. The Phils won 6-3.
Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth hit consecutive homers in the third inning, the 11th of the season for both of them. To all our dismay, these were the first back-to-back homers in 2010 for the Phils. Earlier in the second, Shane Victorino hit a bases-loaded triple off Yankees starter A.J. Burnett to put the Phils up 4-0. The much-maligned Greg Dobbs knocked in the first run and went 1-2 as the DH. The offense was working again but maxed out in the fourth with 6 runs and 6 hits on the board. It proved to be enough tonight.
Carlos Ruiz sat out nursing a sore ankle and an 0-for-22 slump.
The ESPN announcers said the Phillies needed this game to avoid the sweep with Andy Pettitte matched up against Kyle Kendrick tomorrow. I say they still have a chance to take the series.
