Myers Pounded Again, Phillies Lose Despite Comeback
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Brett Myers was awful in his 2nd straight start getting pounded for 8 runs on 9 hits, including 3 homers in 4 1/3 innings. Despite a valiant comeback effort powered by homers by 2nd baseman Chase Utley and 1st baseman Ryan Howard, the Phillies fell short of Atlanta by an 8-6 score.
The Phillies, luckily didn’t lose any ground as both the Marlins and Mets lost.
Myers’ losing performance Wednesday was downright ugly. He either struck guys out (he recorded 6 strikeouts in his 4 1/3 innings) or got pounded. In fact, his travails while coughing up 3 homers and 5 runs in the first three innings and 3 more in the fifth before headed for the shower are too frustrating to waste time writing about. Those who wanna brutalize themselves can click here for the gory details.
MLB.com’s Ken Mandel succinctly summarized Myers’ performance;
The right-hander’s second and sixth pitches were hit for home runs — to Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones — and many of his 75 offerings were tasty enough for Atlanta hitters to smack all over Citizens Bank Park. In his shortest outing of the season, Myers surrendered nine hits.
The Phillies bullpen took over with one out in the fifth and only 5 Braves runners reached base, 2 on walks, the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, the Phillies finally solved 42 year old lefthander Tom Glavine in the sixth inning as shortstop Jimmy Rollins doubled in a run and rightfielder Shane Victorino’s groundout plated another run. Chase Utley followed with his MLB leading 14th homer, a two out, 2 run blast to rightfield to cut the Braves’ lead to 8-4. Two hitters later, Glavine made his way to the showers as reliever Jeff Bennett recorded the final out. Glavine won his first game of the season and his first game with the Braves since the 2002 season.
Howard pounded a 2 out solo shot to rightfield in the eighth inning off of lefthanded reliever Royce Ring and Rollins singled home the final Phillies run with two out in the ninth off of reliever Blaine Boyer who was touched for 3 hits in the inning. Pinch hitter Greg Dobbs preceded Rollins’ hit with his ninth pinch-hit of the season (he’s 9-for-20), a single with two outs in the ninth.
Catcher Chris Coste went 4-4 with 2 runs scored in the game.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
In Thursday’s final, the Phils hope to take 2 of 3 from the Braves as ace Cole Hamels faces Chuck James in a battle of young lefthanders.
After the Braves, the Toronto Blue Jays come to town on Friday for 3 games as interleague play begins. Friday’s opener is another battle of lefthanders, veteran 45 year old Jamie Moyer looks to get back on track after being pounded in his last start against the Giants. He is opposed by 26 year old rookie David Purcey.
On Saturday, Adam Eaton opposes A.J. Burnett. In Sunday’s get-away game, Kyle Kendrick opposes Toronto’s ace Shaun Marcum with his 2.22 ERA and 8 plus innings in his last two starts. On Monday, the Phils begin a roadtrip with 3 games against the Washington Nationals.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
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