Phillies Score Perfect 10 Against Astros

Brett Myers pitched seven innings and Chris Coste was 4-for-5 as the Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Houston Astros 10-2.

The Phillies jumped out early on Astros’ starter Brandon Backe.

In the first inning, So Taguchi led off with a single that was followed by Greg Dobbs getting a single to right. Backe struck out Chase Utley. Ryan Howard drove in Taguchi with a single and advanced Dobbs to third. Dobbs scored on Pat Burrell’s infield single, which made it 2-0 Phillies.

Geoff Jenkins then doubled to center scoring Howard. Burrell tried to score, but was thrown out at home.

Burrell led off the third with a walk. Jenkins got on with a fielder’s choice and Burrell advanced to third on a throwing error by Geoff Blum. Coste got his first hit of the game with an RBI double, scoring Burrell and giving Philadelphia a 4-0 lead.

After Miguel Tejada homered in the fourth to make it 4-1, The Phillies continued to pile on the runs. Dobbs led off with a single, and came home when Utley homered to right increasing the lead to 6-1.

Backe was pulled after allowing the home run.

Backe (1-2) pitched three innings giving up 10 hits, six runs (five earned), two walks, and struck out two. The Astros starter told ESPN that it was not his day.

"Today was a blunder day," Backe said. "I didn't pitch well and we didn't play well."

Myers (2-1) pitched seven innings and allowed five hits, one run, walked one, and struck out eight. During pre-game, Myers did not have a good bullpen session and told ESPN that it helped him focus in the game.

"My bullpen was terrible," Myers said. "I think that's what really ticked me off and made me focus in better. I wasn't making pitches, nothing was going right. When I saw [Astros leadoff hitter] Michael Bourn step in, that's when I locked it in."

Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel told ESPN he was impressed with how the offense performed.

"We finally scored some runs," Manuel said. "It's good to see the offense come alive."

Coste’s performance at the plate was also key for the Phillies. He was 4-for-5, with a double, home run, and three runs batted in.

The Phillies also hit Houston reliever Oscar Villarreal. Villarreal pitched two innings and allowed three hits and two home runs. Jose Valverde gave up two runs in the eighth inning on Coste’s home run. The Astros bullpen surrendered seven runs in three games.

The Astros (6-10) return to Minute Maid Park and begin a series with the defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies (7-8), starting Friday at 7:05 p.m. CST. Chris Sampson (0-1) will start for the Astros against the Rockies’ Franklin Morales (0-1).