Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Jamie Moyer became the oldest player ever to throw a shutout as he held Atlanta to just two hits and helped Philadelphia take a 7-0 win over the Braves in the opener of a three-game set.
Jamie Moyer Becomes First 47 Year Old To Throw Complete Game Shutout As Phillies Blank Braves
Moyer (4-2) needed 105 pitches and struck out five as he beat out Phil Niekro for the honor of oldest pitcher to ever throw a shutout. Niekro was 46 years and 188 days old, while Moyer is 47 years and 170 days old. It was Moyer's first shutout since 2006 when he was with Seattle and first complete game since 2007 when he was a member of these Phillies. He now has 32 complete games and 10 shutouts over his career and threw his first two-hitter since 1986.
“Outstanding control and command on both sides of the plate,” said Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel about Moyer. “He says if he can put the ball where he wants to do he can get them out and that was a great example of it right there. They hit a few balls hard but not very many, he was just that good tonight.”
Jayson Werth clubbed a three-run home run while Raul Ibanez and Wilson Valdez each added two-run singles for the Phillies, who have won four straight and six of seven.
Derek Lowe (4-3) was tagged for seven runs on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts over five innings for the Braves, who have dropped three of four. Troy Glaus had both the hits for Atlanta.
The Phils got back-to-back singles to start the second inning, but Valdez hit into a double play and Moyer struck out to end the threat.
A two-out rally in the third gave the Phils the lead. Chase Utley kept the inning alive with a single and Ryan Howard did the same. Werth then stepped to the plate and smacked a 2-1 offering into the left field stands for a 3-0 lead.
The Phillies blew the game open with a four-run fifth. With one out, consecutive singles from Placido Polanco, Utley and Howard was followed by a bloop single to left from Ibanez to score two runs. After Carlos Ruiz was intentionally walked, Valdez plated two more with a single to center for a 7-0 lead.
Moyer, meanwhile, was cruising through the game. He gave up a leadoff single to Glaus in the second, but got Matt Diaz to follow with a double play and he retired the next 13 batters to keep the game a one-hitter through six innings.
Moyer worked Atlanta down in order in the seventh as he faced the minimum through seven innings.
Glaus hit a leadoff single in the eighth to stop Moyer’s streak at 17 straight batters retired. However, Moyer retired the next three batters to take the shutout into the ninth inning.
In the ninth, he got Nate McLouth to pop out, Erick Hinske to ground out and Omar Infante to ground out to short to finish the game.
In honor of Robin Roberts, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 83, the Phillies announced that they will be wearing No. 36 patches on the right sleeve of their jerseys for the remainder of the season...The Phils have taken six of eight against Atlanta...Kris Melden takes the mound for Atlanta on Saturday and will be opposed by Joe Blanton for Philly...Moyer faced 28 batters in the game.
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