There are a lot of things that Oswalt is used to that changed when the Phillies acquired him for a three-player package fronted by 27-year-old lefthander J.A. Happ. Even after the Astros defeated the Brewers behind Happ's six scoreless innings and the Phillies fell to the Nationals behind their new starter, Houston still had 13 fewer victories and nonexistent playoff hopes.
Oswalt, who at 32 has a slew of top-5 Cy Young finishes, has gone from playing out the string for a rebuilding team to joining a high-priced rotation that the Phillies hope will help them catch either the Braves in the NL East or the Giants in the wild-card standings.
After last night, they are 3 1/2 games back in the first pursuit, and at least two games back in the second.
The first pitch Oswalt threw in his new uniform ended up streaking through the alley in right-centerfield for a leadoff triple that left Nyjer Morgan standing at third. The Nationals took a 1-0 lead on a groundout by Adam Kennedy, then added two runs in the third and two in the fifth to seize a 5-0 lead.
Oswalt's final line: six innings, seven hits, five runs, four earned runs, two walks, two hit batsmen, and four strikeouts.
"You don't try to think about it, going into a new clubhouse, trying to get to know the guys, and know the personalities," said Oswalt (6-13, 3.53), who joined the Phillies at their team hotel late Thursday night. "But when you get on the field, it's still baseball, and you have to perform at the top of your game. Today, I started out on the wrong foot with the first batter. I think next start I'll be a little bit better tuned, I guess you could say."
