The Phils go streaking: win 10 games in a row

Do you hear it? That sizzling sound? That’s the Phils, because they are cooking with their latest win against the Cubs, bringing their winning streak to 10…10 wins in a row! This is their longest winning streak of the season.

Translations

• The battle took 13 innings to complete - Innings are generally 9 innings. If the score is tied at the end of the 9^th inning, then the game goes in extra innings.
• With Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez on base – Howard and Ibanez had walked and were on 1^st and 2^nd bases.
• Jayson Werth came up to the plate 0-5 – Werth came up to bat 5 times and either struck out, walked, or batted out each time.
• Walk-off 3-run homer – Since the Phillies were playing at home, they bat 2^nd each inning. If they home team is in the lead at the top of the 9^th inning, and the visiting team does not score any runs, then the home team does not have to bat again because they already have enough runs to secure the win. This applies to all innings after the 9^th. If the score is tied (and in extra innings), if the home team scores any kind of run, it is considered a “walk-off.”

Now go and impress the men in your life with your new-found baseball knowledge!

Let’s make it 11 in a row Phils!

Check out this awesome, game-winning home run by Jayson Werth!

Lucky 13: American League wins All-Star Game...again

Not again...

For the 13th year in a row, the American League has won the MLB All-Star game, even though the Phils were ever-present in the line-up. With the AL winning, they will get home-field advantage in the 2009 World Series.

Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Shane Victorino were all named to the All-Star game starters list. Utley went 0-2 with a really nice force out play in the top of the 8th inning. Victorino went 1-2 scoring in the bottom of the 3rd, the only inning with runs on the board for the National League. Ibanez marked his All-Star game debut with an 0-2 at bat. However, he did make history, being the oldest player since Babe Ruth to make his debut at the ripe ol' age of 37. (The Babe was 38 and hit the first ever All-Star game homer in 1933.)

Also making appearances were Jason Werth (0-1) who has a sweet catch out in center field in the top of the 9th and Ryan Howard pinch hitting for Heath Bell of the Padres in the bottom of the 8th. Howard marked his 2nd All-Star appearance with a great run in the Home Run Derby Monday night (He came in 3rd place) and a standing ovation from his hometown crowd during pregame introductions. Having a chance to be the hero with men on first and third, he struck out on a check-swing.

Could have been the game-winner...bummer! Oh well, we are still the reigning world champs. We won last year not having home-field advantage, and we can do it this year, too!