Ryan Howard contributed to yesterday's win in ironic fashion when he helped lead the Phillies to victory not with his bat, but with his base running.
Once the ball hit by Geoff Jenkins was misplayed by Giants second baseman Eugenio Velez, Ryan Howard was charging around the bases as if they were giving away free cheese steaks at home plate to the first people to make it there.
Howard is still mired in a trench of a slump, hitting just .167 but he showed surprising plate discipline in the 9th inning by drawing a walk to get on base.
Right now pitchers are pitching to him. That will probably change in another few weeks after he gets through his annual early-season slump.
But, pitchers aren't afraid to pitch to him, particularly throwing low-outside breaking balls in the hopes of getting Howard to bite. And, he saw a few of those in the 9th inning yesterday, but didn't bite.
Could that be a turning point for The Rhino?
It's certainly a start. And, in helping to provide some late-game heroics yesterday Howard will take a win no matter how it comes. In a day of multi-million dollar divas, Howard is anything but. You can tell he loves to play the game and he's anything but a prima donna.
Let's hope yesterday's "charge" is the start of some good fortune for him.
The Phils will need it because they can't keep winning without he and Rollins' contributions.
Another thing to take away from yesterday's game is that Brad Lidge is still perfect this season in terms of runs allowed.
Imagine that. The guy who got hurt on his first pitch in spring training, whom we thought would be another has-been, has been anything but.
It's refreshing to see somebody finally come to the Phillies and make a major impact.
Hopefully I didn't jinx Lidge by saying that. He still has a 0.00 ERA on the season.
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