Eaton, Gordon Pounded by Tigers
|
|
|
|
|
Bludgeoned! 
True to his 2007 season 6.29 ERA, Adam Eaton was awful once again, this time in 4 2/3 innings, as the Detroit Tigers notched a run each in the first, second and third innings, three in the fourth and one more in the fifth on eleven hits enroute to a 14-5 manhandling of the Phillies.
But the Phillies got two runs in the second inning and three more in the sixth, on third baseman Pedro Feliz’s fifth homer of the spring, as they drew to within two runs at 7-5 as relievers Clay Condrey and JC Romero continued to impress in holding the Tigers to a hit apiece through 2 1/3 innings.
However, Tom Gordon was bludgeoned in 1/3 inning for six eighth inning runs with unrostered veteran Jason Anderson mopping up for the final 2/3’s of the eighth and being charged with Detroit’s final run.
Catcher Carlos Ruiz, who has had a great spring, went two for four and scored a run and centerfielder Shane Victorino went two for four with a run scored and an RBI.
MLB.com’s Chris Girandola records Adam Eaton’s comments on his performance;
“I maybe stayed hard too much with cutters and fastballs,” said Eaton, who concluded the spring with a 7.41 ERA, allowing 14 runs over 17 innings. “You have to give them credit. They have a good lineup and they hit some pretty good pitches today.”
The right-hander, who gave up 11 hits and had only one strikeout on Thursday, allowed a run in each of the five innings he pitched. Over the first three frames, he allowed one run in each, including a solo homer to Placido Polanco, then surrendered three more runs in the fourth.
Eaton almost got out of the fifth inning, but an error on the throw by shortstop Eric Bruntlett on a double-play possibility allowed another Tigers run to score. Eaton was relieved by Clay Condrey, who retired the side on a first-pitch flyout by Jacque Jones.
“I thought my stuff was just as good at the beginning as it was at the end,” said Eaton, who allowed a walk for the first time this spring. “I fell behind a lot of guys…”
The AP recap of the game for Yahoo sports notes;
Eaton is a candidate for the final spot in the Phillies rotation and said he wasn’t sure if he’d be making the trip north this week.
“I made some good pitches but I have no idea,” Eaton said. “If I am in Cincinnati next Saturday when it’s my turn to pitch, I will know I made the team.”
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was also noncommittal.
“I won’t know until we get there,” Manuel said. “Next Saturday is a long way off.”
Pesonally, I’d have to give my nod to Chad Durbin over Eaton head-to-head for the fifth starting rotation spot based on comparable records both last season and during this spring’s exhibitions.
Centerfielder Brandon Inge, who lost his third base job with the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera, went three for three with three RBIs, second baseman Placido Polanco and unrostered Clete Thomas homered for Detroit. Veteran lefthander Kenny “the Gambler” Rogers, he of the Pine Tar “dirt ball” episode in the 2006 World Series, allowed two runs and three hits in four innings and was credited with the win.
The Phils play their final two exhibition games against Toronto on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Sunday is an off-day followed by Monday afternoon’s opening game against the Washington Nationals in their new stadium, Nationals Park.
For a related blog post on Adam Eaton, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |