#Jawnmar Saves the Day As The Phillies Take Down The Cubs
The Phillies aren’t playing great baseball right now. They are also playing very boring baseball. Little run production and long games. Outside of Ryan Howard almost getting hit by a beer bottle, they really haven’t been very blog worthy either. But when you take down the Cubs in the way that they did last night, the nostalgia of being 7 games over .500 in Mid-May comes rushing back.
Jared Eickhoff’s Fastball, Curve, Change-up repotoire last night was otherwordly. The way he stymied a lineup like the Cubs and keeping them on their toes was brilliant. Eickhoff is a very streaky pitcher, but last night reminded us why he was a key piece of the Hamels deal to Texas last July.
Super-utility man, Andres Blanco is the x-factor for this young Phillies team. His energetic personality and his ability to play any position at any time has given the Pete Mackanin a reliable source when we need it most. When Hector Neris came in to pitch the eighth inning up 2, a situation he has become very comfortable in, the error by Caesar got to his head. He preceded to give up 2 hits and was pulled with no outs and the bases loaded. In comes Jawnmar for the 6 out save and after giving up a Sac Fly to Dexter Fowler, Blanco came up clutch once again.
I hate a lot of Mackanin’s in game decision making, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Bringing in Jawnmar took balls and the ML saves leader and future All-Star did not dissapoint. While hitting 95 on the gun with the 2 seamer, he was tossing up spinners that even the best in baseball couldn’t touch.
2 more to go pic.twitter.com/LPAPFsz64N
— chris jones¯\_(?)_/¯ (@LONG_DRIVE) June 8, 2016
As much as an impact the front office has on the lineup and roster moves, I have to support Mack and his on going support of Ryan Howard. Plugging him in the lineup following with Tommy Joseph lurking and then going out and crushing that home run in the 4th was perfect. I thought Howard had another one in the 8th too, but the power to the gaps just isn’t there anymore for the Big Piece.
A Phillies win this afternoon and they will take the series from the Cubs. Something only four other teams have been able to accomplish thus far against the Cubbies; Funny how three of the teams: Padres, Brewers and Rockies, happen to sit near the bottom of their divisions. Joe Maddon’s Cubs seem to be underestimating their opposition – probably not the best route to 117 wins. We got Vinny Velasquez for the 1:05 start and my confidence couldn’t be higher for him today. Having failed to reach the 6th inning in 4 straight starts, Vinny the K looks to regain his April dominance.
PS – Cute.