The Good
The star of the show was Smith, who played Triple-A ball in the Angels' organization last year. Smith was 3-for-4 -- all extra base hits -- with two RBI and two runs. Smith played the entire game, giving Chase Utley the day off. Smith seems to have a lock on a spot with Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he can try to improve his value on the trade market.
Center fielder Shane Victorino found his swing in the lead-off position, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored on a wild pitch. Backup third baseman Greg Dobbs kept his hot spring going with a hit in his only at-bat.
Pitchers J.A. Happ, Joe Bisenius, and invitee Gary Knotts pitched two shutout innings apiece. Happ made his Major-League debut in a spot start for the Phillies last year, and started 24 games for Triple-A Ottawa. Happ did not give up a hit, walked one, and struck out one in his performance Friday.
Bisenius, a reliever, also made his debut in the Majors last year, pitching in two games for the Phillies. He appeared in 35 games for Ottawa in 2007. Bisenius allowed only one baserunner -- the result of a walk -- over two frames Friday.
Knotts, who broke into professional baseball in 1996, started 2007 in independent ball but was signed midseason by the Phillies. Knotts worked three starts each for Reading and Ottawa. Friday, Knotts gave up one hit, hit one batter, and struck out one. A crowded pitching roster may force Knotts to start the year in Reading, but a strong early-season performance could send him to the Lehigh Valley.
The Bad
"The Real Deal" J.D. Durbin gave up two runs on five hits, including a Jack Wilson home run, in his first start of the spring. Durbin also walked one in a performance that does not strengthen his bid for the job of number-five starter.
The worst pitching performance of the day for the Phillies came from new acquisition Shane Youman. Youman was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh in November. The lefty gave up a hit and walked four batters, forcing in two runs in his only inning of work.
On offense, first baseman Ryan Howard went a disappointing 0-for-3, lowering his spring average to .250. The bright spot is that none of Howard's outs were Ks.
Backup third baseman Wes Helms continued his hitless spring with an 0-for-2 day. Helms' stock continues to drop while his salary does not -- not a good combination for the Phillies.
Catchers Pete Laforest, Jason Jaramillo, and Chris Coste all were 0-for-2. Laforest, who signed a split contract in the offseason and expects to land on the IronPigs' roster, struck out in both ABs. Jaramillo is still hitless this spring, as is Coste.
Outfielder T.J. Bohn, who is on the 40-man roster, lowered his average to .333 by striking out in his two at-bats.
The Average
Right fielder Geoff Jenkins was 1-for-3 with an RBI, raising his average to .222. His platoon comrade Jayson Werth walked in his sole plate appearance. Left fielder Pat Burrell was 0-for-1 with a walk.
Third baseman Pedro Feliz cooled off his spring average to a .571 after going 0-for-2. Utility player Eric Bruntlett also cooled down to .429 with an 0-for-3 day. Invitee third baseman Brennan King went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Long-shot infielder Ray Olmedo is still searching for his first hit as a Phillie, as he went 0-for-1 Friday. Outfielder Chris Snelling, who has a slim chance of making the active roster, continued his hitless spring, going 0-for-2 in the game.
"B" Game
Information for Friday morning's "B" game is hard to come by. The game was not aired on MLB.com's Gameday Audio and no box score is available. Phillies.com has this summary:
Earlier in the day: Philadelphia defeated the Pittsburgh, 4-3, in a seven-inning "B" game at Pirate City on Friday morning. Opening Day starter Brett Myers earned the win. The right-hander scattered six hits over three innings, fanned three and allowed an earned run. Myers threw 39 pitches, 29 of them for strikes.
Leadoff hitter Brandon Watson walked to start the game, and scored Philly's first run on a Jason Donald double to the gap in right-center field a moment later. The Phillies struck twice in the second inning, once on a Greg Golson single and again when Golson scampered home on a passed ball.
Golson homered to left-center field off Mike Thompson in the seventh inning for the final tally.
Southpaw J.C. Romero allowed one hit and faced just batter one over the minimum in his two innings of work.
Today's Game
Tune in to the CW 57 or MLB.TV this afternoon at 1:05 to see the Phillies host the New York Yankees in their fourth Grapefruit League game.
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