Caution: Hot Bats

Right now, the Phillies are tearing the cover off the ball. After today's 11-0 shellacking against the Mets, the Phillies now find themselves at 5-1 on the season.

The Phils got the win today thanks in part to Roy Halladay who was his usual outstanding self in today's game. Although he allowed a lot of base runners, Halladay managed to pitch 7 scoreless innings for the Phils. It was all about command for Halladay who located all of his pitches, and got key ground ball outs to get him out of difficult spots. On a day when the bullpen desperately needed rest, Halladay came through, eating up innings, and giving the guys in the pen a break. Baez pitched a scoreless 8th, and Herndon a scoreless 9th.

Offensively, the Phillies were relentless. The Phils scored 2 runs in the third off a Shane Victorino single that scored Valdez, and a Polanco double that scored Victorino. The Phils then followed with a 4 run 4th, in which Carlos Ruiz and Wilson Valdez both had RBI singles. In the 4th Polanco continued his hot hitting with a 2 run single to give the Phils a commanding 6-0 lead. The Phils added insurance in the 5th off a 2 run double from Valdez, and in the 7th off a 2 run HR hit by Raul Ibanez. The key for the Phils offense today was the top of the order. Victorino, Polanco and Rollins all went 2-5 and combined for 5 RBI's. Wilson Valdez went 4-4, and is really doing a great job filling in for the injured Chase Utley.

I think it's fair to say that the Phils' first homestand of the season was a great success. The Phils are hitting and getting great pitching from their bullpen and most of their starters. The Phils travel to Atlanta this weekend to take on the Braves. Tomorrow night, Cliff Lee will pitch against Tim Hudson in the first game of the series.