And so the Astros regained the lead very quickly in the second when catcher J.R. Towles belted one just over the fence in left-center. It also was reviewed upon the request of Astros' manager Dave Clark.
From the naked eye, Towles' blast looked as if it hit the very top of the fence and bounced back into play. The review, however, proved otherwise.
Maybe they ought to do something to make the replay system work better in baseball. Like how about if every play can be challenged and if the manager proves to be wrong, he loses a visit to the mound or a bench player. Better yet, how about if one of those players is a reliever?
To give a manager one less pitching change per game if a challenge is wrong could really speed up the game. Then again, the whole bit on replay kind of negates any speed a lack of a pitching change would bring.
While we're on the topic, I wouldn't mind seeing the warning track be replaced with quick sand.
So in his first outing since Sept. 19, Pedro coughed up runs in the first two innings.
Interestingly, Pedro drilled pitcher Brian Moehler with a pitch after Towles' homer. The pitch sailed behind Moehler and appeared to get him on the backside.
No harm, though. Moehler went out and got the Phillies in order thanks to a double play grounder by Jayson Werth.
FYI: Werth is 4-for-10 in his last three-plus games, but 5 for his last 34.
Is that a slump or a hot streak?
Second inning: Astros 2, Phillies 1