Interestingly, Ryan Howard homered for the fourth game in a row in the seventh inning. It was his 47th home run of the season.
What’s so interesting about this, you ask? Well, the 47 home runs is the same total that Jim Thome hit for the Phillies in 2003 and it’s one away from Mike Schmidt’s old franchise-best tally in 1980. The fact is that we have been so matter-of-fact about Howard’s home runs this season. Forty-seven homers is nothing to sneeze at and it’s like we’ve come to expect it from the big slugger.
Just think how many he might have hit if he didn’t lose three weeks in May while on the disabled list. Or think how many he would have hit if he hadn’t slumped so badly during the first months of the season, as well.
Yeah, 47 homers for Howard… ho-hum.
The Phillies are six outs away.