Following up a historic pitching duel between sure fire Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and Hall of Fame hopeful Cole Hamels, in which both pitchers went deep into the game, veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer went only 5 1/3 innings last night, allowing four runs on nine hits, including two home runs. It was an unfortunate way for the Phillies to end an otherwise successful April and for Moyer to celebrate his own bobble head give away. The Padres stranded nine runners during Moyer’s time on the mound, so the damage could have been a lot worse.

As has been the confounding theme of this short season, Moyer may have had a better day if he hadn’t gotten off to such a rocky start, in large part due to some poor defense behind him. The Phillies continue to rank around the worst in the league in errors and fielding percentage. After getting the first batter of the game out on two pitches, Moyer appeared to be on a roll with a ground out to SS Eric Bruntlett on the third pitch of the game. However Bruntlett’s throw short-hopped first baseman Ryan Howard, who according to Comcast Sportsnet writer John Finger in his post game wrap up, “moves with all the smoothness and grace as block of granite at the bag.” So with one man on, Padres’ slugger Adrian Gonzalez belted a two-run home run, starting what would be a short, but painful day for Moyer. The Phillies would go on to commit two more errors in the first inning, another by Bruntlett and a dropped ball by Jason Werth. While Bruntlett has made several dazzlling plays in the field and has come up with a few timely hits so far this year, he is no Jimmy Rollins. Known for his defensive abilities, Bruntlett has committed four errors already this year, with a fielding percentage of .953.

Despite the poor showing by Moyer, the Phillies had a number of opportunities to take the lead, including sending sluggers Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to the plate with one on and one out. The Phillies failed to capitalize, as has been the problem for Howard all spring. The former MVP is batting just .172 with 12 strikeouts.

Despite ending the month on a sour note the Phillies have some positives to take away from a normally dour stretch. All in all the Phillies have had a good spring, ending the month two games above .500, and more importantly, within a half a game of first place. The biggest problem for the Phillies in recent years has been stumbling badly out of the gate in the first month and digging themselves into a deep hole. They have often times found themselves seven, eight or ten games out of first place and it has taken red hot streaks in the late summer to get them within striking distance of the playoffs, usually missing it by just one or two games. If they can stay within a game or two all season, then they will be in prime position to take the division and get their second playoff berth in as many years.