Q and A: FightinPhillies’ Rich Baxter
Tomahawk Talk recently had the opportunity to do a 3-4 question interview exchange with Rich Baxter of FightinPhillies (a GREAT Philadelphia Phillies blog/fansite), and with the Phillies and Braves currently playing each other in a three-game series, the timing couldn’t be better!
Here’s a look at what Rich had to say in response to our recent questions:
Tomahawk Talk: The Phillies have really been hit hard with injuries recently. Will they be able to weather the storm and return to the top of the NL East?
Rich Baxter: Great question. Yes, the Phillies have been battling injuries this year unlike the previous three years. They are a good second half team though, and if they can get healthy and stay healthy, they remain a threat.
Tomahawk Talk: There has been some talk about the Phillies re-acquiring Cliff Lee. Any chance that will happen?
Rich Baxter: First, trading Cliff Lee was strange in my opinion. How can you trade a guy that you could have had for two years at a decent price and that pitched lights out for the Phillies? There is a chance the Phillies may reacquire him, but it wouldn’t make sense unless they intend to sign him to a long-term contract.
Tomahawk Talk: Roy Halladay is certainly having a great first year as a Phillie. Is he the National League’s best starting pitcher?
Rich Baxter: He’s having a great year, despite the Phillies having a tough time scoring runs for him at times. Roy has yielded a lot of hits in his last five starts, yet his ERA is still low. I think Ubaldo Jimenez is holding on to the top spot among National League pitchers, with Halladay and Wainwright right on his heels.
Tomahawk Talk: What do the Phillies need to do to get back on top in the NL East?
Rich Baxter: They need to start playing better fundamental baseball. Hitting, and scoring runners, is still a struggle at times. Ryan Howard at third and no outs last night, and the Phillies can’t score him? That is the puzzling part of the Phillies.
Tomahawk Talk: Great stuff as usual, Rich. Thanks for doing the Q and A!
3-Run 11th Propels Braves Past Phillies
Matt Diaz delivered a game-winning rbi-double and Eric Hinske followed with a two-run homerun as the Braves snapped a 3-3 eleventh inning tie and went on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 in 11 innings on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
The Braves opened an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but that lead didn’t last long, as the Phillies rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-run shot by Raul Ibanez.
The Braves then plated single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go back in front 3-2, scoring on a fourth inning rbi-single by David Ross and a fifth inning solo blast by the hot-hitting Martin Prado.
The Phillies rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning though on an rbi-hit by All-Star Ryan Howard.
Three scoreless innings followed before the 11th inning heroics of Diaz and Hinske won it for the Braves.
Both starting pitchers pitched well, with Cole Hamels pitching seven innings of three-run ball for the Phillies, and Jair Jurrjens pitching six innings of two-hit ball for the Braves.
Six Atlanta relievers pitched five scoreless innings of one-hit ball to close out the game, with Jesse Chavez (1-1) picking up the win, and Billy Wagner notching his 18th save.
The Braves improved to 49-35 with the win, while the loss dropped the Phillies to 43-39.
Halladay Pitches Phillies Past Braves
Roy Halladay pitched a complete-game five-hitter to get his 10th win of the season as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Braves 3-1 tonight in Philadelphia.
The game featured a great pitching matchup between two pitchers who had nine wins apiece coming into the game, and the game lived up to it’s advance billing, with Derek Lowe pitching seven innings of two-run ball for the Braves, and Halladay pitching the complete-game five-hitter for the Phillies.
The Braves broke on top in the game, going up 1-0 on a first inning solo shot by Chipper Jones, and Lowe made the lead stand up through the first five innings, but the Phillies rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning on a two-run blast by Greg Dobbs.
Philadelphia then added an eighth inning insurance run, extending their lead to 3-1 on an rbi-single by Juan Castro.
Chipper Jones and Brian McCann had two hits apiece in the game for Atlanta, but the Braves only had one other hit against Halladay, who improved his season record to 10-7 with the win.
The loss dropped the Braves to 48-35 on the year, while the Phillies improved to 43-38.
Braves Set To Take On Phillies
The Braves are all set to take on the Philadelphia Phillies this week in a three-game series that begins tonight at 7:05 ET in Philadelphia.
Tonight’s series opener features a matchup of nine-game winners, with Derek Lowe (9-5) pitching for the Braves, and Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay (9-7) pitching for the Phillies.
Jair Jurrjens will start for the Braves in the second game of the series on Tuesday night, and the Phillies will counter with Cole Hamels, who is 6-7 this season.
Kris Medlen (5-1) will start Wednesday night’s series finale for Atlanta, while veteran lefty Jamie Moyer (9-7) will start the finale for Philadelphia.
Those are some great pitching matchups, and this should make for a great series, so be sure to tune in this week and watch the Braves and Phillies play!
Five Braves Named To NL All-Star Team
The American and National League All-Star teams were announced on Sunday and the Braves have had five players selected to play for the National League All-Star team in this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Atlanta will be represented by rightfielder Jason Heyward, second baseman Martin Prado, starting pitcher Tim Hudson, catcher Brian McCann, and super-sub Omar Infante, who was a surprise selection by NL manager Charlie Manuel.
Heyward and Prado will both start for the National League, assuming that Heyward recovers from his thumb injury in time to play in the game, while Hudson, McCann, and Infante will likely play in the game as well.
And if having five players on the NL All-Star team just isn’t quite good enough for you, Braves fans, you still have a chance to vote for Braves’ closer Billy Wagner in the balloting for the final spot on the NL All-Star team.
Congratulations to Jason Heyward, Martin Prado, Tim Hudson, Brian McCann, and Omar Infante on being named to the 2010 National League All-Star team.
And don’t forget to get those votes in for Billy Wagner, Braves fans.
Let’s make it SIX Atlanta Braves on this year’s NL All-Star team!
