Padilla Pitches Gem as Phils Halt Skid Against Reds

Even after just three starts in the big leagues, it's funny to think that Vicente Padilla's place in the Phillies' rotation was never a sure thing. In fact, he had to come to spring training and try to earn a spot on the team let alone win the fifth-spot on the starting corps.

But after just three starts, Padilla has more than proven that not only does he belong on the team, but also he could quickly become the team's ace.

	Vicente Padilla cools off between innings during his 11-strikeout win against the Reds. (AP)

Yes, the three starts have been that revealing.

Padilla threw a spectacular eight-inning gem in a 3-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds that helped the Phils complete a 5-5 opening homestand. While scattering just six measly hits, Padilla struck out a team season-high 11 to halt a three-game losing skid and salvage the last game of the series against the Reds.

"I know it's early but I think I can pitch with anyone," Padilla said through interpreter Carlos Arroyo. "I felt last year and in spring training that I had real good stuff. I think I can be a dominating pitcher."

He was for most of the game against the Reds.

Taking a 3-0 shutout into the ninth, Padilla retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced and 12 of 13 heading into the ninth. With a double-digit strikeout total and a low pitch count, manager Larry Bowa let the young Nicaraguan go for the complete-game shutout but warned him he was gone at the first sign of trouble. A leadoff single by Wilton Guerrero followed by and infield single by Juan Encarnacion followed by a throwing error by Scott Rolen spelled the end.

"He's been unbelievable, just great," Bowa said of Padilla. "It would have been nice if he had had a few more runs to work with but that's not been happening.

"He pitched too good to get a loss."

Jose Mesa made sure Padilla would improve to 2-1 by nailing down his fourth save in as many chances.

"He's like wine," Bowa said of Mesa. "He gets better with age."

But more than anything, youth was served by the 24-year old Padilla.

"It would have been nice to finish the game but I know Mesa is the closer," Padilla said. "I felt strong and real good in the ninth inning. I think the furthest I ever went was the sixth inning."

While it comes as a surprise that such an inexperienced starter can pitch as well as Padilla has in just three starts — two against the Braves for 12 innings and two earned runs — it doesn't to Padilla or his teammates. Padilla would like to assume the No. 1 mantle that was once held by the pitcher he was traded for (Curt Schilling) while catcher Todd Pratt viewed Padilla's outing as if it were routine.

"When he pitches it's great for the club because he gives us confidence," Pratt said. "But the inexperience stuff is overblown. He's pitched in the big leagues before, there's just been guys ahead of him.

"He's very confident. He knows what he wants to do."

Sunday against the Reds, the hitters were ahead, behind and just guessing. Primarily using his nasty, cutting fastball, Padilla threw 99 pitches with 77 going for strikes. When Pratt saw Padilla warm up in the bullpen before the game, he considered just throwing down the old No. 1 because his heater was just dancing out of his hand.

"You can be aggressive with him because he's not going to walk anyone," Pratt said. "Plus, those guys are aggressive. The reports indicated that they like to swing early in the count."

Still, not all is well in Phillie-land. Despite Padilla's pitching, Bowa expressed concern about the team's languid offense. In three games against the Reds, the Phils scored 10 runs of which just six were earned. Sunday, all of the team's runs against hard-luck losing pitcher Elmer Dessens (0-3, 2.70) were unearned.

What causes Bowa the most concern is the fact that the Phillies scored in just four of the 27 innings played in the series against the Reds and in five of their last 36.

"We need a team-effort offensively," Bowa said. "It makes it tough for the pitchers when we're just scoring two runs or three runs and scoring them in just one inning. We have to score more runs."

All the scoring came in the third when Pratt and Doug Glanville led off with singles and Jimmy Rollins reached on a one-out error by Guerrero at third to load the bases. After Marlon Anderson popped to short, Bobby Abreu, back in the lineup after a three-game absence because of a strained hamstring, stroked a two-run single to open the scoring.

Rolen followed by legging out a double down the line in right to make it 3-0.

Through 13 games, the 6-7 Phils are hitting .252 with just eight homers. More importantly, they have just four stolen bases in nine attempts, which Bowa says is the catalyst of the offense. With 98 strikeouts (7.5 per game) to go with just 3.53 runs per game, it no wonder Bowa is starting to get a little concerned.

However, the core of the lineup is hitting well. Abreu (.355), Anderson (.313) and Lieberthal (.300) are all getting hits with Rolen at .280 swinging the bat well. It's just they can't piece a few hits together for multiple innings and games.

Regardless, Abreu knows it's just a matter of time before everyone is clicking.

"I know we will score runs with this lineup," Abreu said. "It's still just 13 games and we're going to hit."

Now that the three longest homestands of the season is over, Bowa is happy to hit the road with a win. Still, categorized the stand as "mediocre" despite playing four games against the Braves and three more against a tough Marlins team.

Following a much-needed Monday off, the Phils jet off to Miami where they will begin a three-game series with the Marlins on Tuesday before heading to Pittsburgh for three more. Brandon Duckworth (1-0, 2.77) will pitch against Brad Penny (1-1, 4.61) to kick off the trip.

Duckworth is pitching a day earlier than normal because Terry Adams, who was supposed to pitch Tuesday, is suffering a strained right sternoclavicular joint. The last time he pitched, Duckworth struck out nine in a 7-5 win against the Braves last Wednesday. In his 13 innings, the right-hander has 19 strikeouts.

Penny took a beating against the Expos last Wednesday, allowing seven runs and seven hits in 4 2/3. That outing came on the heels of a 1-0, complete-game, four-hit shutout against the Expos on April 4.

Notes: After the game, Bowa announced that the team sent Nick Punto back to Triple-A and activated Tomas Perez from the 15-day disabled list. Perez completed a two-game rehab stint at Double-A Reading with a 2-for-4 and RBI on Sunday. ... Pratt went 4-for-4 and now has five consecutive hits as well as six hits in his last seven at bats. This season, Pratt is 8-for-11 as a starter (.727). He also stole his fourth career base during the win, which was his first since May 23, 2001. He now has as many this season as Rollins, who led the NL with 46 last season. "I told him not to get carried away," Bowa said. .... Rolen's RBI was the 500th of his career. ... Sean Casey did not play Sunday after being hit on the side of the head by a fastball from Robert Person on Saturday. Casey sustained a concussion and problems with his eardrum but expects to play Tuesday against Houston.

John R. Finger
ComcastSportsNet.com