It’s been awhile since I lasted covered the Phils, they have gone 6-7 since their second game
…but you already knew that.

The Phillies wrapped up a long home-stand yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Kenny’s Braves. AJ Burnett pitched the way we’ve all been hoping he would pitching seven scoreless innings and citing his hernia as “a blessing in disguise.” The Phils’ only run came in the eight inning when Dom Brown led off with a single. After being sacrificed over to second and a Jayson Nix strike out, Ryan Howard worked Atlanta’s Alex Wood into a walk, putting two men on for Ben Revere. In my opinion, the Howard walk was clearly the turning point of the inning and thus, the game. Regardless of it may or may not have been, Revere ripped a single into center filed to plate Brown and score what would be the game’s only run. Jonathan Papelbon immediately came into the ninth inning to shut down the Braves 1-2-3, showing he has shaken his early season mechanics issues. The Phils avoid what would have been their second sweep in their first three series at Citizens Bank Park. Coincidentally enough, if the Braves had swept the Phillies, all three of the opening series would have sweeps; talk about up and down.

Coors Field, Home of the Rockies

The Phils hit road for a trip to the West Coast stopping first in Denver for a weekend series with the Colorado Rockies (8-9). Here are the weekend’s probables:

Friday at 8:40 EDT: Jonathan Pettibone (0-0) vs. Tyler Chatwood (0-0)
Saturday at 8:10 EDT: Kyle Kendrick (0-1) vs. Jordan Lyles (2-0)
Sunday at 4:10 EDT: Roberto Hernandez (1-0) vs. Juan Nicasio (2-0)
All three games can be seen on CSN Philly and Root Sports Rocky Mountain

When the Phillies came to Denver last year — June 14-16 — the Rockies won two of three from the Phillies. The Pettibone vs. Chatwood matchup is rematch of the second game of that series, which Chatwood and the Rockies won, 10-5. There is some good news and bad news for the Phils. The good news is that the Rockies have allowed 81 runs, the third-most in baseball. The news, however, is that the Rockies have scored 82 runs, the third-most in baseball. The key for the Phillies will be early scoring and strong starting pitching. The Phils have had scoring issues, as shown in the Braves series, and luckily, they’re playing in the hitter-friendly ballpark that is Coors Field. The starting pitching will need to be strong considering the bullpen. Antonio Bastardo pitched well yesterday but he can only be used so much and we know Papelbon can’t pitch more than one inning. If all three starters can record quality starts, the bullpen issues may not be as much of an issue.

LET’S GO PHILLIES!