Chan Ho Park continued the Phillies starting pitching woes with a four-run, 48 pitch first inning, but the Phillies battled back and thanks to a two-run pinch hit home run by Matt Stairs in the top of the ninth, the Phillies topped the Rockies 7-5.

The Good:

- For the second consecutive game the offense was led the Chase Utley and Jayson Werth.  Utley went 2 for 3 with two RBI’s and three runs scored.  Both of Utley’s RBI’s came in the 8th inning via the long ball (his first of the season), off Manny Corpas.  Werth went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.  Werth now leads the Phillies with six RBI’s.

- Ryan Howard had another strong game going 3 for 4.  Howard’s lone out, came via strikeout.  This wasn’t a classic Howard strikeout though.  This was an 11 pitch strikeout, where Howard battled.  Howard isn’t chasing the low and away slider he has the past couple years.  Howard can keep that mentality, the strikeout totals will begin to ease.

- After Park’s disastrous debut, the bullpen came in and shut down the Rockies.  Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and Brad Lidge pitched five and two-third innings of shutout baseball, allowing only two hits, while striking out five.

The Bad:

- Jimmy Rollins continues to struggle.  Rollins went 0 for 5, lowering his season average to .107.

The Ugly:

-Park made his case why he should be in the bullpen, not the starting rotation.  It took Park 98 pitches to get through three-and-a-third innings, and it was painful to watch.   It appeared Park would get ahead of the batter, then timidly dance around the strike zone, as if he lacked the ability to put the batter away.  With J.A. Happ sitting in the bullpen, another start like this for Park could mean changes.

- Though six games Phillies pitching has allowed 13 home runs.

The Phillies are in Washington today to open a three game series with the Nationals.  This is the Nationals home opener and President Obama will be throwing out the first pitch.  Jamie Moyer takes the hill for the Phillies.  Moyer is looking to rebound from a tough start against the Braves when he gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings.  Facing Moyer will be Daniel Cabrera.  A one time top prospect, Cabrera possesses a mid 90′s fastball, but has struggled with his control for much of his career.  In his last outing, he allowed five runs on seven hits over six innings.