Phillies Lose 2 to Padres, Drop 3rd, 4th Games of Homestand
|
|
|
|
|
The Phillies lost the first two games of their series with the Padres on Friday and Saturday by scores of 14-3 and 4-3. The Phils have now lost 4 of their first 5 games of the homestand and 7 of their last 10 games.
In the process, they have dug themselves into a deep hole as September approaches, dropping into a tie with the Atlanta Braves, who split their games on Friday and Saturday, at 7 games behind the NL East leading Mets who won both on Friday and Saturday. The wild card leading San Diego Padres took a 4 game lead on the Phils and Braves by virtue of the 2 wins at Citizen’s Bank Stadium.
It seems that the curtain is closing rapidly on our hopes for a Phillies East Division crown, or at least a wild card berth. And so, what had shaped up as a great showdown with the East Division lead on the line, now, under even the best scenario — a Phils’ victory in the finale against the Padres and an unlikely 4 game sweep of the Mets would still leave the Mets 2 to 3 games up.
The once vaunted Phillies offense struggles to score 3 runs in a game; they have scored 5 or more runs in but 3 of their past 10 games including their 11-6 loss to Pittsburgh last Saturday.
Ryan Howard hasn’t had a homer or made a tangible contribution in 11 games. He’s got to go on a tear for the Phils to make a move. Aaron Rowand and the much-maligned Pat Burrell are the only guys producing consistently. Perhaps this can be explained by Chase Utley’s missed time on the DL. Hopefully Utley meets earlier projections of a return to the lineup in time for Tuesday’s Mets opener.
Phillies starters have been riddled by injuries. We won’t even talk about Adam Eaton and Freddy Garcia who have been huge disappointments. But Jon Lieber went down in June and ace Cole Hamels a week ago, hopefully for only two starts. With the injuries to starters, the Phils have gone out and acquired replacements in Kyle Kendrick, J.D. Durbin and Kyle Lohse who have far exceeded expectations. The one starter who has managed to stay healty all season has been Jamie Moyer. But the veteran 44 plus year old lefthander has been inconsistent over the past 2 months. In his last 2 starts, he’s been belted for 16 runs while not lasting through the 5th inning. Previously, in mid-July, he was pounded by the Dodgers for 10 run in 5 1/3 innings.
But the biggest reason for the Phillies’ current predicament, even more than the current stagnant offense, is undoubtedly the worst bullpen in the National League, perhaps in all of baseball.
In Friday’s San Diego blowout, after Moyer was pounded, Brian Sanches and Jose Mesa, a walking nightmare, let the game get out of control and out of reach.
On Saturday, Lohse and reliever J.C. Romero got the Phils through 7 innings with a 2-1 lead. But then Tom “nothing left in the tank” Gordon gave up the tying run on a homer in the 8th and Brett Myers was tagged in the 9th with two solo homers in being charged with his 5th loss. Of the entire parade of 12 relievers who have seen action this seson, Myers has by far been the most consistent — and that might not be much of compliment. Ten of the other relievers have been pounded. Ryan Madson was the only other effective reliever going the month of July only giving up 1 run before going on the DL with right shoulder strain.
The Phillies had better find offensive and bullpen solutions fast, for that curtain is closing fast. Despite Myers’ tirade against a Philadelphia sports writer after Saturday’s game, at the current pace, there won’t be any curtain-calls, just a chorus of Philadelphia Boooooos.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on these and all of Friday’s and Saturday’s games, click here and here.
The Phils MUST salvage Sunday’s finale with the Padres. Rookie Kyle Kendrick goes, in a crucial start, opposed by Tim Stauffer who was pounded for 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings in his only previous appearance of the season.
The Phillies open their 4 game series with the Mets on Monday. J.D. Durbin goes for the Phils against Brian Lawrence for the Mets.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on all of Sunday’s games, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |