It was only a matter of time before the Astros strung a couple hits together. After an Angel Sanchez dribbler got through, Hunter Pence smacked a double into the gap in right-center to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody down. Carlos Lee blooped out to Wilson Valdez and Bill Hall grounded out to Wilson Valdez, which plated Sanchez for the first run of the season. Chris Johnson worked a long at-bat but flew out while breaking his bat to end the inning.
Phillies hitters are not doing a good job of making Brett Myers work. While Roy Halladay has thrown 101 pitches through 6 innings, Myers has needed just 46 to get through his five. Only Jimmy Rollins has had a decent at-bat this game, working the count full before grounding out to third. With concerns about the Phillies’ approach at the plate coming into the game, they have not impressed at all. Myers hasn’t struck anyone out, but he’s gotten a bunch of easy ground balls and lazy pop ups that haven’t given his fielders much trouble.
Raul Ibanez has looked especially bad at the plate, pulling off and not keeping his shoulder in. Those simple mistakes need to be rectified quickly — this lineup can’t afford to have Raul start like he did last year. Valdez, Halladay and the top of the order lead off the bottom of the 6th.
1-0 Astros.