Gordon Coughs Up Walk-Off Slam, Phillies Lose to Marlins
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Manager Charlie Manuel’s pitching moves have met mostly with success this season. But on Wednesday, he blew it Big-Time. With capable relief like Chad Durbin (1.67 ERA in 25 games), Ryan Madson (3.37 ERA in 28 games) and Rudy Seanez (2.49 ERA in 19 games) available to go in the ninth facing the top of the Florida order, Manuel opted for Tom Gordon. The result; 2 walks, a line single and 2nd baseman Dan Uggla’s walk-off slam and a Phillies 6-2 loss in game 2.
The loss, combined with Atlanta’s loss and the Mets’ win, leaves the NL East first place Phillies a scant 2 games up on the Marlins and 6 1/2 games up on the both the Braves and Mets.
For 8 innings, this game was about pitching with ace lefthander Cole Hamels providing another Hamels-worthy performance; 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk and 13 strikeouts. But Hamels had thrown 115 pitches through eight, with his lone walk being to leftfielder Luis Gonzalez to lead off the inning. In between 1st baseman Jorge Cantu’s 2 out first inning solo shot through his 1 out seventh inning repeat shot; from the last out of the first inning through the first out in the seventh, Hamels had faced and put down 17 straight Marlins hitters.
Meanwhile, lefthander Andrew Miller, with his 5.22 ERA, threw nearly as well as Hamels, going seven innings, throwing 98 pitches and giving up only 1 run on 4 hits while walking 1, striking out 7 and retiring 14 Phillies in a row at one point.
The Phillies offense basically called in sick for this one. The only offense was centerfielder Shane Victorino’s seventh inning 1 out double to centerfield followed by 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s RBI single. 1st baseman Ryan Howard then grounded out and leftfielder Pat Burrell struck out to end the mini-threat.
The Phils offense looked to be finally coming to life in the ninth inning against winning pitcher Kevin Gregg as Greg Dobbs, pinch hitting for Hamels, opened with an infield single with Eric Bruntlett running for him. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins walked after which Bruntlett stole 3rd. The Phillies looked ready to tie and take the lead after which the Marlins ninth would be Brad Lidge time.
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds describes the Phillies ninth for Yahoo sports;
Gregg entered in the ninth with a 2-1 lead and quickly got into a first-and-third, no-out situation after a single, a walk and a stolen base.
Gregg struck Shane Victorino out on an 82 mph breaking ball, then got Utley to hit a grounder to second that could have ended the game—but shortstop Hanley Ramirez double-clutched the ball before throwing to first, allowing Utley to beat the play and bringing pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett home with the tying run.
The Phils would up leaving the bases loaded…
Ryan Howard was intentionally walked and Burrell was hit by a pitch. But rightfielder Jayson Werth went out on a swinging bunt to the pitcher to end the inning.
AP’s Reynolds describes the Marlins’ ninth;
Gordon relieved Hamels to start the ninth and gave up a single to Cantu and a pair of walks. Gordon (5-3) fell behind Uggla as well, and the Marlins’ stocky slugger crushed a 3-1 offering high over the left-field scoreboard for his team-leading 19th home run.
“I just left it over the plate,” Gordon said. “And he got it.”
Uggla shed his helmet rounding third, then leaped into the mob that awaited him at the plate.
“We were just looking for a sacrifice fly there,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said with a wry smile. “The ball just carried a little bit. Hate when that happens.”
It was the first game-ending home run in Uggla’s career, and the second such slam in Marlins history: Bobby Bonilla did it Sept. 16, 1997, against the Colorado Rockies.
The loss was Gordon’s 3rd, he has 5 wins.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
The Phillies hope to salvage Thursday’s final in another battle of lefties as veteran 45 year old Jamie Moyer faces youngster Scott Olsen. The Phils badly need this one to reestablish momentum going into an important 3 game series with the NL Central 2nd place St. Louis Cardinals who have 40 wins.
Kyle Kendrick faces former teammate Kyle Lohse in Friday’s opener. On Saturday, Adam Eaton is opposed by 30 year old Todd Wellemeyer.
After St. Louis, the schedule gets no easier as the Phils come home to entertain the Boston Red Sox and L. A. Angels in inter-league competition.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
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