Ageless Jamie Moyer lifts Phillies to win

Jamie Moyer made some more history and when he finished, Charlie Manuel provided a topic for debate.

In the end, it all worked out fine for the Phillies, who ended a two-game losing streak by holding on for a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

On a night when Jimmy Rollins returned but the offense remained in a malaise, Moyer continued to act as the Phillies' soft-throwing assassin.

"All his pitches are about the same speed, but [the hitters] have three different angles coming at them," catcher Brian Schneider said after Moyer allowed one run, two hits, and three baserunners.

In his last two starts, Moyer has allowed just three runs and five hits over 16 innings and if you erase his one disastrous start at Fenway Park earlier this month, he is 8-5 with a 3.57 ERA. Moyer, 8-6, picked up his 266th career victory, tying Hall of Famers Eppa Rixey – a former Phillie - and Bob Feller for 35th on the all-time list.

"He was a great pitcher in his day," Moyer said when asked about Feller. "He was another guy I didn't see pitch. I guess if you stick around long enough you're going to catch some guys."

Moyer also caught Robin Roberts, another former Phillie, in a more dubious category. When Russell Branyan launched a two-out home run into the second deck in the fourth inning, it was the 505th home run allowed in his career, tying the late Roberts for the most ever.

"He's probably laughing at me right now," Moyer said. "The only thing I think about when I hear that is I had a lot of chances to do it."

After the home run to Branyan, Moyer retired the next dozen hitters in order before Trevor Crowe reached on an infield single in the top of the sixth inning. After Shin-Soo Choo drew a walk and Crowe stole third base, Carlos Santana hit a ball to deep left field that died in the glove of Raul Ibanez on the warning track.

Moyer retired the side in order over the next two innings, then departed for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth. Manuel, who was ejected by second-base umpire Sam Holbrook at the end of the fourth inning, opted to go with lefthander J.C. Romero to protect a one-run Phillies lead in the ninth.

"They had two switch-hitters and a lefty and the two switch-hitters according to our reports are supposed to be a lot better left-handed hitters than right-handed, so we chose J.C.," Manuel said.

Switch-hitting Trevor Crowe was batting .256 against lefthanders and .240 against righthanders when he led off the ninth. Romero got him to ground out to second.

The lefthanded hitting Choo followed with an infield single, bringing the switch-hitting Santana to the plate. Santana, who is 8 for 18 with two home runs off righthanders, drew a walk. Bench coach Pete Mackanin then called on Brad Lidge, who struck out Austin Kearns and Jhonny Peralta with sliders to end the game.

It was Lidge's fifth save in six chances and Manuel raised his voice when asked about his closer situation after the game.

"Lidge is our closer, so let's leave it right there," the manager barked. "Lidge is our closer. In my mind he's our closer and that's what counts."

Lidge said he likes to get the ball at the start of the ninth inning, but understood his manager's decision.

"I told him I really understand, and I'll be ready whenever he wants me. Charlie and I are on the same page," Lidge said.

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