Phillies Tie, Lose in Pitcher’s Duels Vs Cards, Twins
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Young starters Carlos Carrasco and Kyle Kendrick both gave their chances a boost in the starting rotation 5th spot competition while Phillies hitters had problems with Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright and the Cards bullpen in a 10 inning 2-2 tie on Friday as well as with knuckleballing Minnesota starter R.A. Dickey and the Twins bullpen in a 2-1 loss on Saturday.
On Friday, Carrasco gave up 2 runs, both on a 3rd inning homer by centerfelder Rick Ankiel, on 3 hits while walking 2 for the only Cardinals scoring. Cards starter Wainwright was stung by a 2nd inning leadoff homer by 1st baseman Ryan Howard, his 6th homer of the exhibition season. Howard went 2 for 3 for the game.
2nd baseman Chase Utley, on the mend from off-season hip surgery, also went 2 for 3 on Friday with a run scored in the 6th inning off of Wainwright.
Aside from shortstop Eric Bruntlett and rightfielder Geoff Jenkins who both also collected 2 hits apiece, Phillies bats were silent throughout against both Wainwright and the St. Louis bullpen.
Relievers Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, Mike Koplove and Jake Woods looked solid shutting the door on the Cards over the final 5 1/3 innings on 3 hits.
Kendrick was particularly impressive in his best start of the spring going 5 innings giving up 2 runs, both in the 1st inning, on 5 hits while striking out 4 and walking only 1. But the Phils couldn’t solve Dickey’s knuckler and had trouble with the Twins bullpen.
Outfielder John Mayberry was the only Phillie with 2 hits and the Phils’ only run came on utlility man Eric Bruntlett’s 2 out, 9th inning solo homer which averted a Twins shutout.
Relievers Clay Condrey, Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre followed Kendrick, each doing a great job shutting down the Twins.
Dickey was credited with the win while Kendrick, despite a fine performance, was charged with the loss.
For all of the results of spring training play on Friday and Saturday, as well as World Baseball classic results, click here and here.
Ace lefthander Cole Hamels, having been temporarily sidelined over elbow concerns, is back throwing both long-throw and sessions. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports on Hamels’ progress:
Hamels… took an important step forward Saturday morning at Bright House Field.
Hamels threw his first bullpen session since he received an anti-inflammatory injection into his left elbow Tuesday in Philadelphia. Hamels said he felt no tightness and had no swelling in the elbow during or after he threw.
“The only soreness I have is from the injection, and that actually has been fading day by day,” Hamels said. “Other than that, all the spots that were kind of causing me soreness didn’t cause me any discomfort at all, so I think that’s a good thing.”
“We still have time,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Hamels’ chances to pitch Opening Night. “There’s no sense rushing. No sense in talking a whole lot. We’ll wait until we get to the point where we see what we have to do. That day is coming, but it ain’t quite here yet.”
The Phillies have not said who would take Hamels’ place Opening Night, although Hamels endorsed right-hander Brett Myers.
Righthander Myers gets the starting call as the Phils play the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
For all of Sunday’s scheduled exhibition games and the World Baseball Classic game as well, click here.
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