FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Operative description of the day: Bright sunshine with no clouds and a 30 mph northerly wind blowing out to right field led to lots of longballs for the cross-the-Keystone-State rivals.

GOOD IMPRESSIONS: After going two for two yesterday against the Reds, free agent third baseman Pedro Feliz (a.ka. Peter Happy in some English speaking countries) started off today’s contest with a single and a double giving him four hits in his first four at bats in Phillies pinstripes although the streak ended there.

Pirates starter Phil Dumatrait, he of the 15.00 ERA for the Reds last season was impressive in setting down the Phillies quietly in the first two innings allowing just a walk and a hit while adding two strikeouts.

First baseman Adam LaRoche started off the scoring with the first of the day’s three shots over the right field fence. He also made a spectacular grab of a bad hop grounder by Greg Dobbs that shot straight over his head.
Nate McLouth, battling for the starting CF job was 1 for 4 but hit a three run shot right down the line.

Ryan Howard hit the shot of the day a home run derby caliber blast that cleared two fences and a path beyond the right field fence, depositing that ball into the murky pond between the stadium and Route 19.

Überprospect Andrew McCutcheon slapped a single to left and eventually scored on a passed ball. He was so fast to home plate that he crossed it before catcher Jason Jaramillo even reached the ball that had bounced to a spot shy of the on-deck circle.

BAD IMPRESSIONS: Lefty Joe Savery’s day started off sweet, making his first appearance of the spring for the big league club. It soured fast when he was touched up for five earned runs on a walk and four hits, including McLouth’s three-run job, in one inning.  In all, it was an unsavory outing for Savery (who incidentally was the Phils’ first pick in the 2007 amateur draft out of Rice).

Geoff Jenkins started in right field and took the collar, going 0 for 3. Perhaps the Phillies might have been better off looking for a right fielder who looks more like Donovan McNabb than Brett Favre.

Pirate outfielder Nyjer Morgan played a high flyball to left field by Carlos Ruiz into a Tracy Morgan skit, losing the ball in the sun, then having it hit no more than two feet away from him on the warning track before hopping into the stands for a ground rule double. In his defense, it was a very tough sky and if the wind weren’t blowing 30 MPH in from right, it would’ve been long gone.

Eric Bruntlett is a jack-of-all-trades but he misplayed a shot by rookie first baseman Steve Pearce to centerfield into a triple.

MIXED IMPRESSIONS: Jaret Wright pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one walk, but by that time the Phillies scrubs were in the game.   

Trying to make the team asa reserve, former Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz played right field with the Pirate scrubs and looked comfortable. However he was 0 for 3 with the bat.

Tomorrow: Dunedin for the Blue Jays-Tigers