Phillies Batter Backe's Changeup

The Phillies teed off on Houston's Brandon Backe this afternoon in a 10-2 Philadelphia win.

Brandon Backe went after the Phillies with constant changeups, but the Phils' potent lineup punished his off speed pitches to score six runs in the first four innings.

Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell hammered changeups in the first inning for RBI singles in the first inning. Chase Utley's fourth inning homerun came on a changeup, belt high on the outer half of the plate. Utley drove it over the right-centerfield fence for the two run blast.

Backe also struggled to locate his fastball which led to several hits and two walks in three plus innings. He departed the game after the long ball he surrendered to Utley.

Pat Burrell's homerun gives him 28 homeruns during his last 98 games. That's about a 45 homerun pace when extrapolated over an entire season.

Add in the fact Burrell has drawn a tremendous amount of walks during that streak, throw in a batting average near .300 over that same span, and you can make a case he's been one of the best hitters in the Major Leagues since July 1st.

It's a little early, but a Pat Burrell for MVP campaign could be coming.

Brett Myers also put together his second straight quality start. He seems to be re-acclimated to his role as a starting pitcher after two very shaky starts to open the year.

Myers came out throwing absolute gas. Every pitch in the first inning, either a two seam or four seam fastball.

First ten pitches of the second inning? You guessed it ten more fastballs.

It's a very good sign for Myers that he is going back to his fastball after having trouble locating it in his first two starts.

The second time through the lineup, Myers really stayed away from his heater. Instead, he got his outs through the use off his off-speed pitches.

Myers left the game after the 7th inning, with a final line of five hits, a walk, an earned run, and eight strikeouts.