Barajas Homers Off of Eaton, Gordon; Toronto Beats Phillies
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Toronto catcher Rod Barajas, a former Phillie and a mediocre catcher at best is remembered unaffectionately around Philadelphia for failing to crouch low enough to block the plate, thus enabling Florida’s Hanley Ramirez to score by sliding underneath him last May. But Phillies starter Adam Eaton got in deep trouble loading the bases in the second inning on a hit batsman and 2 singles. Barajas didn’t flub this time pounding a grand slam to rightfield as
the Blue Jays topped the Phils by a 6-3 score on Saturday.
The loss, coupled with the Mets win over the Yankees behind lefthander Johan Santana and Florida’s defeat of Kansas City, dropped the Phils to a game behind the NL East first place Marlins and dropped to only a game ahead of the Mets. Atlanta, who lost to Oakland, remained 3 games behind Florida and 2 behind the Phils.
The score could have been much worse as Eaton, in trouble more often than not through his five innings of work, was saved by the Phillies defense which nailed two Blue Jay runners at home. He gave up 4 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3.
Ryan Madson replaced Eaton to begin the sixth and pitched through the seventh inning only allowing one Blue Jay to reach on him, on shortstop Marco Scutaro’s lead off walk in 6th.
Meanwhile, the Phils fought to back into the game against starter A.J. Burnett, first putting up a bases loaded, 2 out threat in the third. But Burnett got 2nd baseman Chase Utley to ground to first to end the inning. In the fourth inning, Greg Dobbs pounded a 2 out RBI double center to plate the Phillies’ first run. Dobbs was standed on 2nd base when catcher Chris Coste struck out to end the inning. Coste went 0 for 4 for the game.
The Phils didn’t threaten again until the seventh inning. Dobbs opened with a single to leftfield. With 1 out, Armando Benitez replaced Burnett and Shane Victorino pinch hit for Madson. Victorino walked after Dobbs stole 2nd base. Shortstop Jimmie Rollins, who went 3 for 5 for the game, doubled to right scoring Victorino and Dobbs to narrow the Blue Jay lead to 4-3. One of the runs was charged to Burnett and the other to Benitez. The Phils had the chance to tie or take the lead as Rollins made 3rd base on a passed ball. After centerfielder Jayson Werth struck out, Utley was hit by a pitch putting runners at the corners, but 1st baseman Ryan Howard could’t deliver in the clutch lining out to rightfield to retire the side.
Burnett went 6 1/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 8 was the winning pitcher while Eaton, of course was charged wih the loss.
Lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero replaced Madson to open the eighth inning and got the 1st two outs with a double sandwiched in-between. Tom Gordon replaced Romero and retired the side. But Gordon emulated Eaton in the ninth inning as Barajas led off by going yard to give the Blue Jays an insurance run and a 5-3 lead. Then, with 1 out and a runner on 2nd base, pinch hitter Hector Luna singled to shortstop with the final Toronto run scoring on 1st baseman Howard’s fielding error. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Manuel went to Rudy Seanez to replace Gordon. Seanez got 3rd baseman Scott Rolen to fly out to center advancing Luna to 3rd base. On an attempted double-steal, Luna was caught trying to steal home to end the inning.
Closer B.J. Ryan pitched the ninth inning for Toronto. After getting the fist 2 outs, Rollins got his 3rd hit, a double to leftfield and advanced to 3rd base on fielder’s indifference. But Pedro Feliz, pinch hitting for Seanez, struck out to end the game. Ryan was awarded his 8th save of the season.
The defense saved the Phillies 3 runs in the game but to no avail as the offense didn’t step up in clutch opportunity situations with Howard striking out 3 more times bringing his season total to 60 in at least 184 plate appearances. Utley (4 for 38) and leftfielder Pat Burrell (5 for 34) seem in mini-slumps. Howard went 0 for 4 on Saturday to end his 8 game hitting streak.
AP sports writer Rob Maaddi notes for Yahoo sports that;
RHP Kris Benson pitched a simulated game for the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. It was Benson’s first action since a groin injury delayed his recovery from rotator cuff surgery on his throwing shoulder.
A successful return and performance by Benson would put some heat on both Myers and Eaton to perform up to expectations.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Saturday’s games, click here.
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 road trip with 3 games against the Washington Nationals.
Brett Myers, who desperately needs a solid effort, is opposed by Tim Redding the opener with the Nationals.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sunday’s games, click here.
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