The Phillies’ Critical-Inning Candidates

If you ask what trade pickup during the rebuilding has been the biggest surprise, Joely Rodriguez would be in the conversation. He has thrived as a reliever and is working his way to the back of the bullpen because he’s had seven consecutive solid outings. In fact, he’s more than a lefty specialist, and he could get the call in the eighth with a one-run lead to face three tough hitters including two left-side bats. To date, he’s proven himself in the sixth and seventh frames, and he’s already notched one in eighth inning.

Pitching:

• Garcia: 4 Gms., 4 Inn., a 0.00 ERA and 1 Hold.
• Rodriquez: Last 7 Gms., 6 2/3 Inn., a 0.00 ERA and 3 Holds.
• Neshek: 9 Gms., 7 2/3 Inn., a 0.00 ERA and 4 Holds.
• Benoit: 11 Gms., 10 2/3 Inn., a 2.53 ERA, 1 Save, 1 BS and 4 Holds.

Without Pat Neshek‘s delivery to scramble the hitter’s thinking, the Philadelphia Phillies’ pen wouldn’t be different from most MLB relief corps. In fact, he’s yet to allow a run during his nine performances, and he’s made four appearances in both the seventh and eighth frames. He’s “money”!

When they say he’s pumpin’ gas, they don’t mean he’s filling an empty tank; they’re saying he’s emptying it. Currently, Benoit has a 2.53 ERA for 11 performances and can deliver in the ninth as well. The ageless wonder handled the tougher part of the Miami Marlins’ order on April 27, but Neris didn’t have it much easier.