Braves Sweep Phillies Wasting Happ’s Excellent Outing
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Young, promising Phillies lefthander J.A. Happ, who pitched a brilliant 5 hit, complete game shutout of the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start, was again excellent on Thursday, only giving up a 1 out, 2 run fourth inning homer to Atlanta’s 1st baseman Casey Kotchman in seven innings of work. But the Phils offense continued in deep-sleep, no-pop mode against starter Javier Vazquez and the Braves bullpen. Last season’s reliable set-up man Ryan Madson came on in the eighth but was pounded once again as has happened with increasing frequency this season, this time for 3 runs including a 2 run pinch homer by Garret Anderson, as the Braves completed their sweep of the Phillies with a 5-2 win wasting Happ’s fine outing.
With this latest bummer, the Phillies find themselves reduced to a virtual tie with the Florida Marlins, who had Thursday off and have 2 more wins but 2 more losses as well, for 1st place in the NL East division. The Mets, who slipped past the Pittsburgh Pirates in ten innings are only a game off the lead. Those Braves are now only 2 back in 3rd place in the now bunched-up NL East race.
Happ was again brilliant, fighting through only a 1 out, bases-loaded jam in the second inning and a 1st and 3rd base 2 out pickle in the seventh while again staying ahead in the count throughout his seven innings, just as was the case in his previous start — the complete game shutout. Happ’s only mistake was on that 2 run shot by Kotchman, only his 3rd homer of the season.
But the offense couldn’t get untracked despite a 2 for 4 night by leadoff hitter shortstop Jimmy Rollins who ended an 0 for 28 drought. The offense had their chances; Happ trying hard to help his cause in the fifth inning with a 2 out single to right centerfield followed by Rollins’ single to center with centerfielder Shane Victorino lining out to shortstop for the final out. With the Phils having just tied the game at 2-2 and with 2 out in the sixth, catcher Carlos Ruiz came up with a runner at 3rd base but grounded a full-count pitch to 2nd base to end the inning. In the seventh, Victorino slammed a 2 out double to centerfield but 2nd baseman Chase Utley followed flying out on a 1-2 pitch to end another threat.
In the eighth inning with the score still knotted at 2-2 and no clutch hitting is sight, rightfielder Jayson Werth tried to take matters into his own hands after drawing a 1 out walk from reliever Mike Gonzalez. Werth stole 2nd base, and took 3rd on catcher Brian McCann’s errant throw. Then, with a 2-1 count on 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz, Gonzalez uncorked a pitch way over McCann’s head back to the screen. Werth broke for home on a play which even Braves manager “Cox said he thought Werth would be safe when he took off from third.” But as AP sports reporter Charles Odum wrote for Yahoo sports:
McCann recovered quickly and threw back to Gonzalez (3-0), who made the tag on Werth’s headfirst slide.
Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr recounts what happened next:
After that, everything fell apart [in the eighth] for Ryan Madson, who continues to struggle. Matt Diaz hit a RBI double, but Garrett Anderson gave the Braves insurance on a 2 run bomb.
It is the first time since 2005 that the Phillies were swept at Turner Field, where they were 9-0 last season.
Vasquez wen 5 1/3 innings and was lifted in the sixth when the Phils tied the game. He gave up 2 runs on 7 hits while walking none and striking out 5 and throwing 109 pitches. Happ went seven full innnings throwing 104 pitches while giving up 2 runs on 7 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5.
Gonzalez, who was nearly the goat of the game for his eighth inning wild pitch, ending up credited with the win. Madson, who was pounded for the winning runs in the eighth inning, was tagged with his 4th loss.
For the scores of all of Thursday’s games, click here.
So the Phillies come home, battered and wounded by an abominable 2-6 road trip and after having lost 17 of their last 21 games. They have to reverse their fortunes and right the ship before All Star break or it could mean that they end up tanking the season. And it won’t get any easier during their 3 game series with their NL East division rival Mets even though the boys from Flushing are themselves beset with injuries and their bullpen has been shaky. The Phils called up 33 year old minor league pitcher Rodrigo Lopez (What happened to calling up Carlos Carrasco??) who will start his first game as a Phil against the Mets on Friday. Lopez, who had Tommy John surgery 2 years ago, is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 13 starts with the Lehigh Valley minor league affiliate, having allowed only two earned runs in his last three starts. He’ll face Livan Hernandez.
On Saturday, ageless veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer is opposed by Fernando Nieve.
For all of Friday’s games and Saturday’s games, click here and here.
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