Phillies Lose Finale to Marlins Despite Another Solid Start for Kendrick
|
|
|
|
|
The Phillies wasted another fine pitching performance by rookie Kyle Kendrick as their offense slumbered garnering but 5 hits while being issued 5 walks and reliever Brett Myers was touched for the two winning runs in the 9th inning as Florida edged the Phils by a 4-2 score.
In losing, the Phillies remained 4 games behind the NL East 1st place Mets who lost their finale to divisional rival, 2nd place Atlanta by a 7-6 score despite a Mets rally for 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning. The Braves jumped back into second place with the Phillies now trailing them by 1/2 game.
Leftfielder Josh Willingham staked the Marlins to a 2-0 lead on Kendrick by driving in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder for the 1st out in the 4th inning. In the 6th inning, he hit a two-out solo homer to rightfield for the 2nd run.
Meanwhile, Marlins starter Sergio Mitre got out of a two out, first and third jam in the 1st inning but them breezed through the 2nd through 5 innings, at one point retiring 8 straight Phils.
The Phillies tied the score in the bottom of the 6th inning off of Mitre as 3rd baseman Gregg Dobbs pounded a two-out, bases loaded, 2 run ground-rule double to centerfield which took one bounce off the warning track and went over the fence. leftfielder Pat Burrell and 2nd baseman Tadahito Iguchi scored. Had the ball remained in play, undoubtedly centerfielder Aaron Rowand, who was walked to load the bases, would have also scored. Iguchi has been hitting at a .388 clip since being traded to the Phillies and spelling All-Star Chase Utley who is on the DL with a fractured hand.
After the 6th, the Phils bats lapsed back into deep sleep as the Marlins bullpen shut them off entirely with reliever Taylor Tankersley registering the win and closer Kevin Gregg registering his 24th save. Mitre went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5.
Kendrick went 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 1. The 8th and 9th innings, with Antonio Alfonseca and Brett Myers, were adventures. Alfonseca got through his two on, two-out situation thanks to a great play by 2nd baseman Iguchi and the resultant play at the plate. On 2nd baseman Dan Uggla’s soft bloop single infield single that fell near second base, Iguchi picked it up, avoided a collision with shortstop Jimmy Rollins and threw out centerfielder Alejandro De Aza trying to score from second base to end the inning.
AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi reviews the 9th inning, and the winning runs which scored off of Brett Myers, for Yahoo sports;
Mike Jacobs snapped a team-record 0-for-33 slump with a single leading off the Florida ninth against Brett Myers (2-4). Miguel Olivo reached on a bunt single when second baseman Tadahito Iguchi was late covering first base.
Iguchi said through a translator that he slipped on his way to the bag.
“It’s very upsetting the way it turned out,” he said.
After Jeremy Hermida walked to load the bases, Iguchi made a diving stop and retired Hermida at second on [Alfredo] Amezaga’s hard grounder up the middle. But pinch-runner Cody Ross scored to make it 3-2.
Hanley Ramirez followed with another fielder’s choice grounder, barely beating shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ relay throw to avoid a double play and give the Marlins a 4-2 lead.
“I couldn’t throw a strike,” Myers said. “I tried to get out of the inning. It just didn’t work out.”
For the scores, boxscores on this and all of Thursday’s games, click here.
The Phillies host the Atlanta Braves for a crucial 3 game weekend series.
Friday’s opener is a battle of young, up and coming lefthanders as Cole Hamels faces Chuck James. On Saturday, Adam Eaton opposes Lance Cormier who makes his 3rd attempt to win his first game of 2007. In Sunday’s finale, veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer faces Buddy Carlyle.
For the scores, boxscores on all of Friday’s games, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |