"Mad Dog" Is the Man

Ryan Madson to the rescue. Last night: entered the game with Brad Lidge's bases loaded, one out. Result: six pitches, two outs. Tonight: entered the 9th and struck out Christian Guzman with a 98 mph smoked sausage down the pike. Then, ninth inning magic again - line drive double play, Utley to Rollins.

After last night's performance by Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, and then Madson to turn around tonight and bring the heat again tells me that the closer role has started to point in Madson's direction. Maybe not forever, but for now.

As for the Phillies offense, again the home runs were solos (15 consecutive HRs is the second longest streak to the 17 by the Baltimore Orioles in 1995). However, the Phillies started to take my advice and get the "small ball" game working. They bunched hits together, stole bases, and made things happen. Gave the a cushion Cliff Lee could work with and Madson finished off.

Oh yeah, Cliff Lee has now donned the Clark Kent costume, as he has shown the Superman getup he was wearing his first 5 starts is there, but not always being worn. He fought off the kryptonite tonight and let the team win the game. He didn't have to put it all on his shoulders.

Next Up:
Thursday, September 10
Nationals Park 7:05 PM ET

Joe Blanton, RHP (9-6, 3.80) Phillies (78-58) @

Livan Hernandez, RHP (7-10, 5.44) Nationals (47-91)
Scouting Report:Phillies: Blanton continues to pitch well. His 3.80 ERA is the lowest of any Phillies right-hander since Brett Myers' 3.72 ERA in 2005. The only other Phillies right-handers this decade to have better ERAs are Vicente Padilla (3.28 ERA in 2002 and 3.62 ERA in 2003) and Robert Person (3.63 ERA in 2000). Blanton allowed six hits and three runs in six innings in a 5-4 loss to Houston on Saturday, when Brad Lidge blew his Major League-leading 10th save.

Nationals: Hernandez had his worst outing since returning to the Nationals, and they paid for it in a 9-5 loss to the Marlins at Nationals Park on Saturday night. Hernandez, who lasted five innings and allowed six runs on eight hits, found himself in trouble starting in the first inning. Six of the eight batters he faced reached base, and three of them scored. In that inning, Hernandez threw 34 pitches, just 14 for strikes. It appeared he was settling down, holding Florida scoreless the next two innings, but Hernandez was hit hard in the fourth, as Florida scored four runs in the frame. Hanley Ramirez highlighted the scoring with a two-run homer to make it a 6-1 game.