Same Score, Different Day, Phillies Edged by Astros Again
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Phillies starter Brett Myers continues to struggle on the mound and the offense continues to struggle even to get on base, and when they do, it’s only with great difficulty that runs score. 1st baseman Ryan Howard belted his 14th homer of the season, a 1 out, 2 run shot to rightfield to give the Phils a 3-2 lead. But Myers couldn’t live with prosperity while Brian Moehler retired 9 of the last 10 Phillies he faced as Houston tied in the fifth and went ahead in sixth to edge the Phils again by a 4-3 score.
In losing, the Phils lost ground to both the Atlanta Braves and the Mets who both won. Florida’s game with the San Francisco Giants was rained out. The Phils now sit in 3rd place in the NL East, 2 games behind the Marlins, 1 game behind the Braves and 2 games up on the 4th place Mets.
Ryan Howard drove in all 3 of the Phillies runs in a 2 for 4 game, first with a 1 out RBI double to leftfield in the first inning off of starter Brian Moehler. But then leftfielder Carlos Lee returned the favor and then some with a 2 out, run double also to left as the Astros took a 2-1 lead.
In the second inning, Myers tried to help his own cause with 2 out single to centerfield, but shortstop Jimmy Rollins grounded out to retire the side, leaving Myers stranded.
In the third inning, with one out, 2nd baseman leftfielder Chase Utley was hit by a pitch (for a change). Howard followed with his blast to put the Phils up 3-2. Meanwhile Myers struggled with his control and pitch velocity, but the Phils got away unscathed until the fifth inning.
Lee’s fifth inning 2 out single scored centerfielder Michael Bourn with the tying run. Bourne opened the inning with a double. The result could have been worse, but 1st baseman Lance Berkman, who had walked preceeding Lee, was nailed at home trying to score from 1st base on a single.
The Astros took the lead for good in the sixth on pinch hitter Mark Loretta RBI single to centerfield.
Winning pitcher Moehler tossed 73 pitches in six innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 and hitting a batsman. Losing hurler Myers tossed 112 pitches in his six innings giving up 4 runs on 8 hits while walking 4 and striking out 2.
Reliever Chad Durbin, who perhaps ought to be taking Myers’ spot in the rotation, pitched the seventh and eighth innings giving up 2 hits while striking out 3.
Lefthanded Reliever Tim Byrdak replaced Moehler in the seventh and put the Phils down despite Rollin’s 2 out double to center. Byrdak got the first 2 outs in the eighth before manager Cecil Cooper went to righthander Oscar Villarreal who walked leftfielder Pat Burrell. T.J. Bohn, newly called up to replace the injured Jayson Werth, ran for Burrell. But Villarreal was replaced by lefthander Wesley Wright who retired pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett to retire the side.
Reliever Doug Brocail came on to pitch the ninth and was credited with his 2nd save for the Astros when the dust cleared. With runners on 2nd and 3rd base and 1 out, Brocail intentionally walked Rollins to load the bases as it looked like the Phils were primed to either tie or pull this one out. AP sports writer Chris Duncan describes what happened next for Yahoo sports;
Shane Victorino flew out to [Darin] Erstad in left and Erstad threw a perfect throw to [Brad] Ausmus, the Astros catcher, who tagged out Pedro Feliz at the plate.
Brocail and Lance Berkman embraced Ausmus as the sellout crowd cheered and Erstad sprinted in from the outfield to join the celebration.
“I’ve made that throw plenty of times,” Erstad said. “You just put the work in and you’re just kind of on auto pilot. Obviously, it’s a big situation and a lot of times, you try to throw the ball too hard. You try to stay smooth and fortunately, I hit the right spot.”
The ending left the Phillies in disbelief.
“Nine times out of 10, you’re going to score on that play,” said Victorino. “I guess next time, I’ll have to hit it farther.”
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel didn’t think Erstad had a strong enough arm to beat Feliz to the plate.
“He made a hell of a throw,” Manuel said. “It’s a tough way to lose a game.”
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Saturday’s games, click here.
Sunday’s final bills ace lefthander Cole Hamels and his 19 consecutive scoreless innings opposing Chris Sampson as the Phils hope to salvage a series split.
After the Houston series, the Phils return home to play Colorado and then Florida. Monday’s opener with the Rockies shapes up as a duel of lefthanders as 27 year old Jorge De La Rosa opposes veteran 45 year old Jamie Moyer.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sunday’s games, click here.
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