Late night with the Phils

It's Christine's favorite time of the year - a West Coast swing. {Boo!}

Last night, I conked out shortly after 11 with the Phillies up 4-1; Christine made it through a few more innings before dozing off.

But the first thing I saw when I turned on the TV this morning was the MLB ticker saying that Brad Lidge got his 13th save of the year. Nice start to the day.

Looking at the box score - Lidge needed just three pitches and two batters to finish off the 5-3 win over the Padres. (Raul Ibanez threw out a runner Lidge inherited.) Just now, Christine reluctantly proclaimed the former perfect closer "back."

Joe Blanton pitched well - three earned on six hits and a walk in seven innings. Every starter (including Blanton) reached base. Even Greg Dobbs had a pinch-hit double (I guess he was allowed to actually hit for a change). Chase Utley and Ryan Howard homered. I was awake for those - Howard's was a bomb to deep center.

Tonight's middle-of-the-night affair pits new Phillie Antonio Bastardo against possible future Phillie Jake Peavy. Christine doesn't want Peavy traded to the Phillies.

Red Sox: Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis continue to lead the All-Star voting, which reminds me I haven't voted yet.

Tonight, they got their first crack at Detroit's 20-year-old wonderkid Rick Porcello, a Morristown native. Things started off well - Dustin Pedroia led off (again) and had a double, scoring on a hit by J.D. Drew. Daisuke Matsuzaka hung on for five innings, and the Sox lead 5-1 in the 8th.

Christine is usually bored by the Red Sox, but I think she'd like this game because it involves a squirrel on the field.