Four pitchers combined to shut out the Padres as the Phillies won 3-0 to improve to 12-6 on the season. It was the Phillies fifth shutout of the year and third on the road. Roy Oswalt got the win after he turned in what is quickly becoming a very typical Oswalt outing. He went six innings, giving up just one hit and struck out seven.
The Phillies got all the offensive they would need in the top of the second when Ben Francisco led off with a home run and Brian Schneider hit one out two batters later. The Phillies would add another run in the third when Chris Denorfia dropped a fly ball from Ben Francisco with the bases loaded.
The Padres really only threatened in the seventh inning. David Herndon came on in relief in of Oswalt and promptly got two outs. However he allowed a single to Nick Hundley and walked Cameron Maybin to put two on with two out. Charlie Manuel opted to bring on Antonio Bastardo, who then walked Will Venable to load the bases, but got Alberto Gonzalez to fly out to end the inning.
Bastardo stayed on for the 8th and struck out two for a scoreless inning. The lefty has yet to allow a run this year. Jose Contreras came on for the save.
Ryan Howard had a rough night, going 0-5 with four strikeouts and leaving six men on base. All told, the Phillies left a whopping 24 men on base.
Cole Hamels gets the start tomorrow in his home town.