Berkman And Tejada Back Felipe Paulino's Win Over Cliff Lee's Phillies

Miguel Tejada hit his 14th homer of the year (and 196th hit) and Lance Berkman hit his 30th double of the year. Together, they drove in enough runs to support Felipe Paulino to win his last game of the year/ FINALLY!!! He had started 5 games since being recalled from AAA and in those games, he gave up 2,2,1,4 and 8 runs - and had  exactly 2 runs of support in the first 4 of those games.

Tonight, he needed 110 pitches to go 5 innings, but he slogged his way through, going to 3-2 counts six times, giving up 2 doubles, 4 singles and 3 walks, striking out 5 and giving up only 1 run.  To be honest, his stuff wasn't really that sharp and the Phils rested Utley and Victorino in favor of Bruntlett and Ben Francisco (who actually did very well against Paulino) and pulled Rollins after 5 innings and sent in Miguel Cairo.

They Phils looked as if they had done just a leeeeeetle too much celebrating last night, and the crowd looked equally listless.

Meanwhile, Cliff Lee gave up 4 runs - not sure why this particular ballclub gives him so much trouble - and Brett Myers, who hasn't pitching in something like 3 weeks, was VERY rusty out there. He would have given up more than the 1 run he DID give up, but he was pulled in favor of Clay Condrey, who had no trouble getting pinch hitter Aaron (ofer) Boone to flyout to center.

The Phils weren't real too "Phitin" until the 9th inning, when they suddenly emerged from their game-long stupor to mount an impressive offense against Valverde. Not sure why they chose to let Miguel Cairo have the final AB with the winning run at the plate instead of sending in Utley, who is 50 times the player/hitter that Cairo is, but what can I say - guess they aren't worried about not having the most wins in the NL.

I didn't really have time to write more last night - everyone is sick with whatever flu-like virus is going around, but I had hoped to see something of vintage Pedro. It was odd and somehow painful to see him throwing a "fast"ball at 89 and a mostly unchanging change. With all due respect to Maddux and Clemens and Randy Johnson, Pedro at his best was the best pitcher I ever saw - virtually unhittable, even more so than RJ.

Made me think about The Last Of Biggio. I understand why these guys cling, why they hold on long after what made them extraordinary have long vanished, I do, but somehow, I wish they would all pull a Will Clark and go out on top, so that our last memories of them are of their eliteness, not their faded shadows.

And speaking of faded shadows, off to NY to face what is left of the Mets. Tomorrow night, it's Wandy vs John Maine. Saturday, it's Yorman Bazardo vs Pat Misch and in the final game of the season, it's Wilton Lopez vs Nelson Figeuroa - wonder if the stadium will look like it's a Marlins' game...