Lohse, Cardinals Edge Phillies the Day After Rout
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Cardinals leadoff hitter leftfielder Skip Schumaker opened the game with a single off of starter Adam Eaton and 2nd baseman Adam Kennedy followed by going yard to stake Kyle Lohse to a 2-0 lead. The Cards scored a single run in the third on rightfielder Ryan Ludwick’s RBI single and Lohse took care of the rest holding the Phillies to 2 runs, on leftfielder Pat Burrell’s 18th homer, and 4 hits as St. Louis came out on top by a 3-2 score.
Despite the loss, the Phillies maintained a 4 game lead in the NL East over 2nd place Florida who lost to Tampa Bay in inter-state inter-league play. The 3rd place Atlanta Braves, 6 1/2 games back, gained a game on the Phillies with their win over the L.A. Angels while the 4th place Mets, 7 games out, gained 1/2 game on the frontrunners on a rainout.
The Phillies offense apparently took the night off against Lohse. The only Phils with punch in their bats were Burrell, who followed a Ryan Howard lead-off single in the fourth with his 18th homer, a clout to centerfield and Eaton who went 2 for 3 and tried real hard to help his own cause. But beyond these two, Phillies bats went totally silent. They left a total of 4 men on base, after having mauled the Cardinals on Friday.
For Eaton, it was his fifth straight quality start and he deserved a better fate then that of losing pitcher with a seasonal 2-4 record. Manager Charlie Manuel lifted Eaton for lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero in the seventh after catcher Yadier Molina led off the inning with a double. Romero got Lohse to ground into a fielder’s choice with Molina out at 3rd base. Lohse was then nailed attempting to steal 2nd base. Shortstop Cesar Tzturis tripled to right centerfield with two outs but Romero struck out Schumaker to retire the side. Romero then finished up by putting the Cards down in order in the eighth.
Former Phillie Ryan Franklin came on for Lohse in the ninth and retired the Phillies in order for his 9th save of the season. Lohse, who won his 8th game of the season vs 2 loses, retired the final 9 hitters he faced.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Saturday’s games, click here.
The Phillies hope to take Sunday’s rubber game as Brett Myers tries again to get his act together and is opposed by young 24 year old rookie Mitchell Boggs.
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.
In the opener with Boston, 35 year old Bartolo Colon opposes Phillies ace lefthander 24 year old Cole Hamels.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sunday’s games, click here.
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