Through four games, the Phillies are 3-1 and have scored a combined 32 runs. The Phillies' latest win came Friday night as they defeated the Houston Astros 8-0. As reported on the game broadcast, it is the first time since 1926 that the Phillies began a season with 10 or more hits in 4 straight games.The defending National League champions are gosh darn wrecking things. The top four batters in the lineup are hitting .400 or better (Rollins- .467, Polanco- .579, Utley- .438, Howard- .400). This past winter's main offensive addition, Placido Polanco, whose batting average is higher than Doc Gooden driving a kindergarten carpool, had 4 hits in Friday's win and seems to be a spark for the offense, as he's scored 7 times and driven in 8 runs in the Phillies 4 games.
Raul Ibanez, last season's big free agent acquisition, finally broke out in Houston also. With 3 hits, Ibanez turned his fortune around, as he entered the game batting .091.
The 'Stros, who are loaded with players and team personnel who are all very familiar to Phils phans, are really struggling early in 2010. From the top, with former Phils general manager Ed Wade overseeing the organization, to their on-field manager and former Phils coach Brad Mills, to former star prospect Mike Bourn, to last season's contributors Brett Myers and Pedro Feliz, it seems as though the Astros are the anti-Phillies, despite all the familiar faces.Saturday night the two teams go back at it and are slated to wear retro uniforms at 7:05pm, as Jamie Moyer officially starts a Major League game in his fourth different decade.
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