Rays Beat Phillies in Game 2, Even Series
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Tampa Bay scored 3 runs in the 1st two innings on Brett Myers, 2 on groundouts in the first inning with runners on 3rd base, and the other run on a bases loaded single to right by centerfielder B.J. Upton. The Phillies left another 11 runners stranded against James Shields and the Rays’ bullpen in falling by a 4-2 score in Thursday’s game 2.
Brett Myers was touched for 2 runs in the first inning. He walked leadoff hitter 2nd baseman Akinori Iwamura on 5 pitches and gave up a rightfield single to Upton which Jayson Werth bobbled for a rare error, allowing both runners to advance putting runners on 2nd and 3rd base with none out. Then single runs scored on successive groundouts as Tampa Bay scored 2 runs while grounding out for all 3 outs of the inning.
The Phillies looked like they were about to break out against starter James Shields in the second inning. 1st baseman Ryan Howard lined a 1-2 pitch deep to centerfield for a double and leftfielder Pat Burrell worked a full-count before walking. Centerfielder Shane Victorino popped out to 3rd base for the 1st out. Shields worked a 1 ball, 2 strike count to dh Greg Dobbs before tossing a wild pitch moving the runners up to 2nd and 3rd with one out. But Dobbs struck out looking and 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz lined out to centerfield ending the inning and stranding the runners.
AP baseball writer Mike Fitzgerald provides a recap of the Rays’ 2nd and 4th inning scoring for Yahoo sports;
…A confusing call in the second… helped Tampa Bay make it 3-0. Rocco Baldelli walked on a checked swing that seemed to confuse players and umpires alike.
He checked his swing on a full-count pitch and plate umpire Kerwin Danley immediately raised his right arm as if to call strike three. But then Danley pointed to first base for an appeal, and umpire Fieldin Culbreth signaled safe.
“It was his intention to go to first base for help on a half-swing that he had as ball four,” said Mike Port, Major League Baseball’s vice president for umpiring. “He just gave a confusing mechanic. But he had called it a ball, and it was ruled no half-swing anyway. So it was just that particular mechanic that caused confusion.”
Myers and several Phillies infielders were puzzled, along with Manuel, who took a few steps out of the dugout but didn’t argue long.
“I thought he called the guy out,” Manuel said.
Port said the umpires would not be available for comment.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Upton hit an RBI single to right. Werth made a strong throw to cut down Baldelli, who crashed into [Carlos] Ruiz but couldn’t dislodge the ball.
In the fourth, [Jason] Bartlett, the No. 9 hitter, drove in Cliff Floyd with a safety squeeze—one pitch after fouling off a suicide squeeze attempt. Rays fans clanged their cowbells, just as they were instructed on the scoreboard in a campy “public service announcement” before the game.
Tampa Bay never really got a huge hit, but neither did the Phillies as Jimmy Rollins & crew fell to 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position.
“That might be one of our sloppiest games all year,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I’m concerned about us hitting with guys on base, because it looks like at times we might be trying a little too hard. But we can fix that.”
After the fourth inning, Myers settled down and allowed only 2 Rays to reach over his last three innings, a fifth inning walk to 1st baseman Carlos Pena and a lead-off seventh inning single by Bartlett.
Myers threw 85 pitches through seven innings walking 3 and striking out 2 in a losing cause. Lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero saw his first 2008 World Series action retiring the Rays on 9 pitches in the eighth.
Winning pitcher Shields, surprisingly, was pulled after throwing 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball. The Phils threatened against Shields in both the fifth and sixth innings but came up empty.
In the fifth, with runners on 1st and 2nd base with 1 out, 2nd baseman Chase Utley lined into a doubleplay, from rightfield to 1st base with Werth being doubled off of 1st base.
With 2 outs in the sixth inning, Victorino and Dobbs laced successive singles to right and centerfield chasing Shields. Reliever Dan Wheeler entered and got Feliz to ground a 1-1 pitch into a fielder’s choice retiring Dobbs at 2nd base for the final out.
The Phils threatened again in the seventh inning as Ruiz led off with a walk and stole 2nd base as Rollins struck out. Werth followed by going down on strilkes looking. Young closer David Price replaced Wheeeler and walked Utley on 4 pitches putting 2 men on with 2 out. But Price struck out Ryan Howard looking on a 2-2 pitch to retire the side.
The Phillies scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings against Price. Eric Bruntlett pinch hit for Dobbs with 2 out in the eighth and lined Price’s 1st pitch out for a a solo homer to leftfield.
The Phils threatened once again in the ninth inning off of Price but got only 1 run to show for it. Ruiz led off with a double to leftfield on a 3-2 pitch. After Rollins popped out, Werth reached on an error by 3rd baseman Evan Longoria allowing Ruiz to score. With the tying run at the plate, Price struck out Utley on 3 pitches and got Howard on a 1st pitch grounder to 2nd base to end the game.
The Phils appear to be in one of their failure to score with runners on funks. We’ve had Rays’ pitching on the hook numerous times and have come away empty. In game 1, they got lucky because their pitching was THAT GOOD. But, to win this series, they will have to capitalize on a far high percentage of scoring opportunities than they have thus far in the series. With a bit of offensive elbow-room provided to this pitching staff, this series is winable.
On Saturday, the venue switches to Philadelphia for game 3 as 45 year old lefthander Jamie Moyer faces Matt Garza. In Sunday’s game 4, Joe Blanton contests against Andy Sonnanstine. On Monday, lefthanders Cole Hamels and Scott Kazmir face-off in a rematch of game 1.
However, there could be a fly in the ointment with predictions of a 70% chance of rain in Philadelphia on Saturday which could alter the world series schedule and, as a result, the pitching plans for both teams.
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