Phillies Blow Scoring Chances, Lose to Arizona
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Adam Eaton, who now has not gone six innings in 3 of his last 4 starts, was pulled for a pinch hitter after Arizona’s 5 run fourth and the Phillies blew a number of scoring opportunities against lefthander Randy “Big Unit” Johnson and the Arizona bullpen in losing to the D’backs by a 6-4 score in Tuesday’s game 2.
In losing, the Phils fell from one game up to a first place tie with the Florida Marlins who shut out the Milwaukee Brewers by a 3-0 score. The Phils remain 1 1/2 games ahead of the Mets who lost to the LA Dodgers by a 5-4 score.
Arizona got on the scoreboard first, reaching Eaton for a run in the first inning on 1st baseman Conor Jackson’s one out RBI single to centerfield to score centerfielder Chris Young who doubled to open the game.
The Phillies took a brief 2-1 lead in the third inning as Eaton led off the inning with a double to centerfield followed by shortstop Eric Bruntlett’s 2nd homer of the season, a one out, two run shot to leftfield. Bruntlett, who has filled in capably for injury rehabbing MVP Jimmy Rollins, had another multi-hit game and again drove in 3 runs. The Phils missed a chance for more runs when 2nd baseman Billy Harman flied out with two runners on to end the inning. Harman started at 2nd base in place of Chase Utley who was slotted into 1st base in place of benched Ryan Howard.
The roof caved in on Eaton in the fourth although he made it through the inning. AP sportswriter Andrew Bagnato describes the inning for Yahoo sports;
The Diamondbacks exploded for five runs in the fourth, when Eaton couldn’t find the strike zone.
He walked [rightfielder] Justin Upton and [catcher] Miguel Montero around a double by [3rd baseman] Mark Reynolds to load the bases with no outs.
After retiring [2nd baseman] Augie Ojeda on a fly to shallow center, Eaton walked the .167-hitting Johnson on four pitches to tie it at 2.
Chris Young’s fielder’s choice grounder gave the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead, and then [Stephen] Drew hit a 1-2 delivery 385 feet to right field for a three-run homer.
Drew has had 2 hit games in both games of the series and has driven in 4 runs thus far.
Losing pitcher Eaton’s (0-1) line for the game was four innings pitched, 6 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, a strikeout and Drew’s homer. The Phils’ bullpen gave up a mere two hits over the remainder of the game.
Meanwhile the Phillies offense was in semi-snooze mode failing to convert on scoring chances in the fourth inning — a runner on 3rd base with one out, fifth inning — a runner on 3rd base with two outs, eighth inning — runner on 2nd base with two out, ninth inning — runners on 1st and 3rd base with two out.
In the 5th, Bruntlett doubled to rightfield to drive in his third run and rightfielder Jayson Werth solo homered off of Johnson in the sixth inning to cap the Phillies’ scoring.
“Unit” Johnson went six innings giving up 4 runs, 6 hits while walking 2, striking out 6 while surrendering homers to Bruntlett and Werth in gaining his 2nd win vs 1 loss. The bullpen gave up 3 hits to the Phils who couldn’t capitalize.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Tuesday’s games, click here.
In Wednesday’s game 3, Kyle Kendrick opposes the hitting phenom righthander Micha Owings. And in Thursday’s get-away game, Brett Myers opposes unbeaten Brandon Webb (7-0). Following Arizona, the Phils travel to San Francisco for a 3 game weekend series with the Giants followed by an open date on Monday, May 12.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
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