Durbin 5-hits Padres as Phillies roll
J.D. Durbin isn't sure what the future holds. He has been with four organizations this season, so he knows to expect the unexpected. He knows he could remain in the Phillies rotation based on the strength of his last two starts and continued success.
SAN DIEGO - J.D. Durbin isn't sure what the future holds.
He has been with four organizations this season, so he knows to expect the unexpected.
He knows he could remain in the Phillies rotation based on the strength of his last two starts and continued success, which included a shutout in yesterday's 9-0 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. He also knows the Phillies could acquire another starter before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
And if the Phillies can't make a move?
"It makes me feel better," Charlie Manuel said after watching Durbin allow one run over 15 innings in his last two starts. "It makes me feel better with the way [Kyle] Kendrick has thrown, too. If you look, what more can we ask of them? They're breaking in and being developed at the major-league level."
Durbin allowed five hits, three walks and struck out three in the first shutout of his professional career. His performance helped the Phillies finish 4-3 on the road trip through Los Angeles and San Diego, homes to the top two pitching staffs in the National League when the Phils landed last week in California.
But those stellar pitching staffs took a beating. The Phillies scored 47 runs in the final six games of the trip, while the Phillies pitching staff compiled a 2.77 ERA in that span. The Phillies had nine hits and scored four runs in six innings yesterday against Padres starter Jake Peavy, who started the All-Star Game.
"People talk about Citizens Bank Park and how we hit, but we can hit anywhere," Manuel said.
Jimmy Rollins hit a bases-empty home run to right field in the third inning to make it 1-0. Rollins, who went 3 for 4, has 19 homers this season, which ties him with Carlos Beltran for the major-league lead in home runs for a switch-hitter.
Ryan Howard's double to right scored Chase Utley to make it 2-0 later in the third inning. The Phillies scored two more runs in the fifth to make it 4-0, when Rollins tripled and scored on Shane Victorino's double, and Victorino moved to third and scored on Howard's sacrifice fly.
The Phillies scored five more runs in the eighth.
But the question with this team never has been about hitting. The Phillies can hit. They will score a ton of runs, especially with Howard finding his mojo. The Phillies lead the league with 531 runs scored.
No, when people talk about a Phillies team that is 50-48 and five games behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East, they talk about an inconsistent pitching staff that could impede their path to the postseason once more.
That's why Durbin's last two performances have been big.
He allowed one run in six innings last week in a 15-3 victory over the Dodgers. And yesterday he dominated.
Durbin said the key has been relaxing on the mound.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Repeat.
"It almost seems too easy," Durbin said. "But getting up here, the adrenaline kicks in. Everything. You want to throw faster. But that's when you get in trouble. Slowing the game down is how you ultimately control the game."
Durbin's next scheduled start is Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.
After that, who knows?
"I've gone through it all," Durbin said. "Where they want me is where they want me. . . . Whatever the organization wants to do, I thank them for the opportunity to give them a shot to win."
That's all this offense wants in the final two months: a shot to win every night.
"If our offense is doing what we're doing and we get good pitching, there are no questions left to be asked," Victorino said.