Buzz On Broad

Lee Goes the Distance and Earns Fifth Win of Season; Phillies Blank Marlins, 3-0.

Final: Phillies 3, Marlins 0.

WP: Cliff Lee (5-2, 2.48 ERA) LP: Kevin Slowey (1-5, 3.30 ERA)

With tonight's shutout victory over the Miami Marlins in the series finale, the Phillies have pulled within one game of the .500 mark.  Cliff Lee went the distance for his 12th career shutout of his 12-year career, his first since the 2011 season.  He allowed just three hits and two walks on 115 total pitches in his gem tonight in South Florida. Oh, he batted 2-4 by the way to raise his average to .316.

Delmon Young, like last night, kicked off scoring in the top of the fourth inning with a solo-shot to left field.  He now has three home runs and seven RBIs with the Phillies thus far this season, 91 and 488 respectively for his career.

Domonic Brown and Freddy Galvis provided a couple additional insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning, with a RBI triple and a RBI single respectively to score Delmon Young  and Brown himself.

The Phillies have off tomorrow as they head north to Washington to take on the division-rival Nationals.  The Nationals are returning to the east coast, coming off of a series with the San Francisco Giants.  Earlier today, they won in extra innings, 2-1, to improve their record to 24-23. Kyle Kendrick start, as first pitch is set for 7:05 pm ET.

Game Summary after the jump.

Chase Utley to Undergo MRI

According to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr., Chase Utley will not be in the lineup tonight in Miami. The 2nd baseman reportedly felt burning and pain in his right ribcage following batting practice last night. Due to the sensitivity of a possible rib cage or oblique injury, the team is airing on the side of caution by sitting Utley against the Marlins tonight.

The MRI is scheduled tomorrow during the team's off day. Utley will be heading back to Philadelphia as the rest of his team leaves Florida to begin their weekend series with the Washington Nationals.

Voracek Walks Away, Ferrari Totaled

Reports out of Sports.cz, Flyers winger Jake Voracek was in a car crash this morning. The accident took place in his hometown of Kladno, Czech Republic. Voracek was driving his Ferrari when he crashed into a turning truck. Jake was not injured in the accident.

Reports say that alcohol was not involved in the accident. Jake was speeding, when a truck from the opposite direction slowed down to turn left. Police said Jake did not comply with the safe distance between cars.

More details to come, image courtesy of Sports.cz

Brown, Howard & Young Power Phils to 7-3 Victory.

Final: Phillies 7, Marlins 3.

WP: Tyler Cloyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA) LP: Duane Below (0-1, 27.00 ERA)

Well, there was hardly anything to complain about tonight for the pessimistic Phillies fans that have been surfacing as of late.  Everything went as plan, well almost as Chase Utley was scratched with right side discomfort.  Tyler Cloyd threw well enough for his first win of the season as he lasted seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits and two walks.

Domonic Brown, Ryan Howard and Delmon Young were the center pieces of the Phils offense tonight, going a combined 6-12 with a total of seven runs batted it.  Delmon Young homered for the second time of the season in the top of the fourth inning to kick-off the scoring for both teams in tonight's action.

Cliff Lee starts tomorrow evening in the series finale as he will oppose Kevin Slowey. First-pitch set for 7:10 pm ET.  

Game Summary after the jump.

Injury Bug Bites Phils'

[Photo Courtesy: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports]

The Philadelphia Phillies are dealing with injury issues.

The team has placed Mike Adams on the disabled list after dealing with back spasms, Carlos Ruiz was placed on the DL with a Grade 2 hamstring sprain, and Ryan Howard is listed as day-to-day with inflammation in his left knee.

Howard received a cortisone shot on Sunday.

Humberto Quintero was called up to be the backup catcher in Ruiz's absence. Tyler Cloyd will be recalled from Triple-A now that Ruiz is placed on the DL.

The Phillies are now dealing with their first significant injuries of the season. Will their depth be able to fill the void?

David A. Cattai is a featured journalist with Buzz On Broad & Phielder’s Choice. Follow him on Twitter (@DCattaiSports), Facebook, and Google+ for sports updates.

 

Kratz, Galvis Homer off of Chapman in Ninth; Phils Win, 3-2.

Final: Reds 2, Phillies 3.

WP: Antonio Bastardo (2-1, 2.51 ERA LP: Aroldis Chapman (3-2, 3.32 ERA)

With the Phillies trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, today's game surely felt like a definite loss as Reds' phenom closer, Aroldis Chapman, stepped onto the mound.  Well, Delmon Young's lead-off walk to start the inning sort of lessened those fears.  Cliff Lee ended up pinch-running for Young, and subsequently getting picked-off, however Erik Kratz delivered by tying the game on a home run to deep left field.  Freddy Galvis then followed by doing the unthinkable, going long also to deep left field to secure the Phillies the win.

Jonathan Pettibone threw well enough for his fourth win of the season, but he received the no-decision instead.  He lasted seven strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) over seven hits and three walks.

Opposing starter Homer Bailey was nearly unhittable, as he threw seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits and one walk over 96 total pitches.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz left today's game early with a strained right hamstring.  First baseman Ryan Howard has a knee injury and could be out tomorrow night.

The Phillies will head down to Miami to oppose their divisional opponent, the Marlins.  Cole Hamels starts the series opener Monday night, as he will look to get his season finally on the right track with a victory.

Game Summary After the Jump

Wells Fargo Center 17th-best NHL Arena, Apparently

Image via infinit8monkeys.com

Stadium Journey, a real, actual magazine dedicated to all things stadium and/or journey-related, earlier this week released its 2013 NHL arena rankings. "Oh, let us guess which arena was tops!" you're saying. "It has to be the United Center. Or maybe Madison Square Garden. No, wait--it's gotta be a Canadian arena. Bell Centre?"

Ha ha, no, sillies! It's the Xcel Energy Center, home of the [Googles it] ... Minnesota Wild?

Yes, according to Stadium Journey's rankings, the Wild's arena is tops in the NHL, based on criteria so complex I'll just go ahead and block quote it:

The fans know the game and appreciate the little things, such as clearing the puck on the penalty kill, or a good defensive play to prevent a scoring chance. That is what gives the Xcel a truly special atmosphere and, even though the initial luster of having the NHL back in Minnesota has worn off, there is still a buzz around the building.

Rounding out the top five was the Verizon Center (Capitals) at two, the Tampa Bay Times Forum at three, the Staples Center (Kings) at four and le Centre Bell (Canadiens) at five.

So where was the Wells Fargo Center? Much like the Flyers this season, it finished outside the top-16, coming in at a cool 17th, just one spot ahead of that veritable hockey palace, the Prudential Center. The WFC also finished nine spots behind Phoenix's Jobing.com Arena, because clearly "having a name that makes any goddamn sense" did not factor heavily into the rankings. There must have been bonus points awarded for comfort factor, as it's true that Coyotes fans never have to worry about cramped seating, crowded concourses or parking lot traffic.

Why so low for the Flyers' home?