The Phils first game (sort of -- it's only Spring Training) in about four months was no contest.
The Pittsburgh Pirates cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Phillies in Grapefruit League action.
The game started well for the Phils as starter Jamie Moyer put his 46-year-old arm to good use. He scattered a hit and two walks in two scoreless innings -- a very "Professional" stat line.
Other bright spots included new left fielder Raul Ibanez who knocked in Jimmy Rollins for his first RBI as a Phillie and Ibanez's backup Jeremy Slayden who went two-for-two with a double and run scored.
The dark spots for the Phils were the third, fourth and fifth innings.
The Phils ran into some trouble when Joe Blanton took the mound in the third. He gave up two hits and a run in an inning pitched.
Bullpen hopeful Joe Bisenius followed up Blanton for the Phils with little success.
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The Pirates knocked around Bisenius -- he allowed two hits, two walks and four runs in just an inning of work. The Big blow was a three-run dinger by Shelby Ford (yeah, we've never heard of him either but isn't that a great name).
Scott Nestor followed Bisenius in similar fashion. Nestor gave up three runs on three hits and two walks in just one inning pitched.
The rest of the Phillies pitchers settled down to keep the Bucs scoreless for the rest of the game.
The Phils next game is their Grapefruit League home opener Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
