» Phillies Lose Tight Split-Squad Games to Twins, Devil Rays

Phillies Lose Tight Split-Squad Games to Twins, Devil Rays

Phillies starters Brett Myers and J. Happ opened their games as the Phils got swept in their split-squad games on Sunday.

Myers pitched 6 splendid innings against the Tampa Bay, giving up just 1 run in the 7th and 2 hits, walking 1 while striking out 7. Pat Burrell followed Ryan Howard’s RBI double by hitting his first homer of the spring, a 2 run shot off of Rays ace Scott Kazmir in the 3 run Phillies 6th inning. Despite getting off to a 3-0 lead, the Phils were nipped by the Devil Rays in a 5-4 game.

Unfortunately, the bullpen could stand the prosperity of a 3-1 lead and after Myers gave up the run in the 7th, Antonio Alfonseca relieved Myers and coughed up 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks as the Rays took as 4-3 lead. The Phils tied the score in the 8th off of Devil Rays reliever Chad Orvella who emerged as the game winner. Closer Tom Gordon took the loss surrendering the lead run in the 9th inning. Shortstop and leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins was 2 for 3 and stole his 4th base of the spring.

Happ pitched 3 2/3 innings against the Minnesota Twins and didn’t have the success that Myers enjoyed as the Twins nipped the Phillies by a 4-3 score. Happ surrendered 1 run in the 3rd inning on a solo homer by Justin Morneau and 2 more in the 4th as the Phils fell behind 3-0 after 4 innings. Fabio Castro relieved Happ in the 4th retiring the side and pitched a scoreless 5th inning. Clay Condrey pitched the 6th and 7th innings coughing up the 4th and winning run in the 6th.

In the meantime, Twins ace and Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana pitched 5 one hit, scoreless innings while walking 3 and striking out 2. Reliever Dennys Reyes pitched a perfect 6th inning. The Phils bench charged back with 3 runs in the 7th inning off of Twins reliever Kevin Slowey. Slowey was one of 4 pitchers that Minnesota reassigned to minor league camp following the game.

Yahoo’s AP report on the game records that “The Phillies did not bring any regular starters to Fort Myers other than outfielder Shane Victorino, who went 1-for-3 with a single. He is hitting .432 this spring.”

All of Sunday’s box scores and recaps can be viewed here.

The Phillies host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday in Clearwater. All of Monday’s game box scores and recaps can be found here.

Add to:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. |