Myers Loses No-Hitter, Game as Volquez Shuts Out Phillies
|
|
|
|
|
For 6 2/3 innings, Brett Myers flirted with a no-hitter before young 1st baseman Joey Votto broke up the attempt with an RBI double scoring 2nd baseman Brandon Phillips, recipient of Myers’ 6th walk of the game. Phillips had stolen 2nd before scoring. Votto drove in a 2nd run in the ninth off of reliever J.C. Romero as Cincinnati’s Edinson Volquez, with help from the bullpen in the eighth and ninth, shut out the Phillies by a 2-0 score.
With the loss, the Phils’ lead over Florida in the NL East dropped to 1 1/2 games as the Marlins upended the Atlanta Braves with 4 run outburst in the ninth and the Mets defeated the Giants. The Mets and the Braves are now tied for 3rd place, 3 1/2 games off of the pace.
Myers retired the first 13 batters he faced before walking leftfielder Adam Dunn with one out in the fifth inning. But Dunn was caught attempting to steal 2nd base, and it’s a good thing. Myers then walked both Votto and 3rd baseman Edwin Encarnacion before retiring the side on a strikeout.
Meanwhile, the Phillies stranded 7 runners between the second and fifth innings as Volquez walked 2, hit 2 batters and gave up 2 hits and the shortstop made an error. But for want of a big hit, the Phils failed to push anything home.
Myers retired the next 4 Reds in a row before walking Phillips with 1 out in the seventh and giving up Votto’s RBI double as the Reds took a 1-0 lead.
After Myers opened the eighth inning by getting catcher Paul Bako on strikes, he walked pinch hitter Ken Griffey Jr. and shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. Manager Charlie Manuel then went to lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero who recorded a strikout and a ground out to end the inning.
Winning pitcher Volquez retired the final 6 Phillies he faced before being replaced by young lefthanded reliever Bill Bray to open the eighth inning. Things got a bit dicey for Bray thanks to the second Reds error. Bray was replaced by closer Francisco Cordero who issued a walk but then got a ground out to end the eighth. Volquez gave up 2 hits, walked 2 and struck out 8.
AP sports writer Rob Maaddi provided these observations for Yahoo sports about Volquez’s performance;
Acquired from Texas in the trade for Josh Hamilton, the 24-year-old Volquez has been dominant for the Reds. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his 12 starts. The right-hander overpowered hitters with a 94 mph fastball and kept them off-balance with a darting changeup.
“The biggest thing is more confidence,” Volquez said.
“A shutout against this club in this ballpark is almost impossible,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Volquez was awesome.”
“He had effective changeup and throws in the high 90s and also has a good slider,” [Shane] Victorino said. “When you have three pitches like that, you tip your hat to the guy.”
After Phillips opened the ninth with a single and again stole 2nd base, Romero walked Adam Dunn and Votto followed with another RBI double as the Reds scored their 2nd run. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Encarnacion was intentionally walked and Bako grounded into a fielders choice force at home. Manuel then went to Ryan Madson who prevented further damage by getting Cordero to ground into a double play.
Cordero closed out the game with a 3-up, 3-down ninth earning his 12 save of the season.
Losing pitcher Myers gave up but one hit, Votto’s 7th inning RBI double, but his 6 walks tarnished an otherwise brilliant outing. Myers struck out 8 and deserved a better fate.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
In Thursday’s final, ace lefthander Cole Hamels, looking to right his ship after 2 sub-par efforts, starts against young recently recalled Homer Bailey.
On Friday, the Phillies take to the road for 3 games each against
Atlanta, Florida and St. Louis before returning home to play Boston and the L. A. Angels in inter-league competition.
In Friday’s opener, veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer is opposed by Tim Hudson for the Braves.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |