We have Sarah Baicker over here doing some baseball stuff. She's writing the official, CSNPhilly.com epic on Jamie Moyer while I just write until my hands fall off.
Ew.
Either way, it's fair to say Pedro didn't exactly dial it up in his first game back. In fact, he started slow as he normally does in what might be his final start of the regular season. As far as the playoffs go, we'll see. My guess is Pedro will be the fourth man in the rotation behind Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton.
If it were me, I'd go old-school manager in the bullpen and have J.A. Happ give me a few multi-inning saves if the situation arose.
Nevertheless, if Pedro gets the ball again he has to do something about those first innings. This season hitters are 14-for-40 against him in the first. That's not too good.
Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick came on for the fifth and continued his strong work in relief for the Phillies since his recall from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He wasn't great in last Saturday's start in Milwaukee, but as a reliever he's ben pretty good. Heading into Wednesday's game, Kendrick appeared in five games out of the 'pen for a 2.89 ERA in nine innings. Take away his first outing of the year against the Red Sox in June and Kendrick has not allowed a run in relief.
That includes the scoreless inning he tossed in the fifth, too.
Who knows... he very well might find his way onto the playoff roster if he isn't careful.
That playoff berth seems a lot more likely now thanks to back-to-back triples to start the inning from Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino.
Fifth inning: Phillies 7, Astros 3