Locked and Loaded

Written by: Josh Landsburg on 31st August 2009

Locked and Loaded | read this item

For the second consecutive opportunity, Lidge locked down a save in 1-2-3 fashion. This time Lidge used his fastball more effectively, and he pitched his slider off of that. Whereas, on Friday night, he used his slider first and worked his fastball off of that. Therefore, the closer is using pitching smarts to get hitters out right now, and it has worked for him in his last two outings.

Carlos Ruiz had a big two run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Ruiz helped to give Joe Blanton (9-6) the victory, who pitched seven innings of one run ball in the game. After Ryan Madson gave up a run in the eighth, Lidge came on in the ninth with a one run lead, but did not look fazed as he retired the Braves in order on national television. Maybe these past two outings are what gets Brad Lidge’s 2009 turned around.

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