Phillies Blow 2 Leads, Bow to Brewers on Braun’s Walkoff
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Reliever Tyler Walker flubbed his audition for the all-important closer role Saturday with the 2 run ninth inning walkoff homer he coughed up to Milwaukee leftfielder Ryan Braun as the Phillies struggle to find a viable closer alternative to Brad Lidge. But there was plenty of blame to go-around as the Phils blew 4-0 and 5-3 leads. Starter Kyle Kendrick was pulled after 4 innings having given up 3 runs on 5 hits and leaving with the Phils up 4-3. Meanwhile, the Phils had Brewers’ starter Braden Looper on the ropes in the second and third innings but couldn’t deliver a knockout of either Looper or the Brewer bullpen as the top 3 hitters in the order went a collective 0-14. Despite a 2 run second inning homer by catcher Paul Bako and a fifth inning solo shot by 1st baseman Ryan Howard, Phillies failed to seize control of the game and suffered a messy defensive lapse between centerfielder Shane Victorino and shortstop Jimmy Rollins with the result that 3rd baseman Craig Counsell’s blooper bounced off of Rollins for a game-tying 2 run-scoring error. The bottom line in this ugly mess of a game: 2 blown Phillies leads as they bowed to Brewers again, this time by a 7-5 score on Braun’s walkoff homer.
With their 2nd loss to the Brewers, the Phils’ NL East division lead dropped to 5 games over 2nd place Atlanta while their lead over 3rd place Florida, who beat the Mets, dropped at 6 1/2. The Phils’ magic number to clinch the division remains at 4 games.
The Phillies’s struggle to come up with a closing alternative to Brad Lidge continues to appear totally futile. Lidge has blown 11 of 42 save opportunities in 2009 with 8 of those blown saves resulting in lost ballgames. GM Ruben Amaro made a few great deals this season, such as acquiring lefthander Cliff Lee. But the deal Amaro didn’t make — acquiring a viable closer such as lefthander Billy Wagner or Trevor Hoffman when he had the chances, may just turn out to cost the Phils in the playoffs, if not in the regular season. (1964 meltdown revisited??) Hoffman’s gone clean on the Phils in 2 innings over the last 2 games to pick up 2 saves. And all of this stuff about Chan Ho Park, Pedro and J.A. Happ vying for the closer spot — all just plain insane and totally irrational reminiscent of that old 1958 trade of rookie-of-the-year pitcher Jack Sanford to the Giants for Ruben Gomez and Valmy Thomas. On that trade, the Phils owner of the time, Bob Carpenter was heard to remark, “it was the worst trade I ever made.” Are Amaro and manager Manuel travelling down the irrational “Gomez and Valmy Thomas” road?
Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr provides a recap of the game:
Paul Bako opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the second inning. By the third inning, the Phillies led 4-0. In addition, Ryan Howard hit an upper-decker in the fifth inning.
Kyle Kendrick made a spot start for an ailing Pedro Martinez. In four innings, Kendrick allowed three runs (2 earned). Moyer pitched four innings in relief, and gave up two runs. Braden Looper allowed five runs (3 earned) in six innings.
The game was highlighted with four errors, two committed by each team. Raul Ibanez couldn’t keep a ball in front of him. Kendrick made an overthrow. Jayson Werth and Chase Utley miscommunicated on a blooper down the right field line. To top it off, Craig Counsell’s flair bounced off Rollins’ leg, tying the game at five.
The ninth inning must be cursed. Tyler Walker hoped to send the game into extra innings. With a runner on, Walker threw a meatball down the middle of the plate. That’s not something you want to do with Ryan Braun batting. Braun’s walk-off home run cleared the right center field wall.
Kendrick threw 81 pitches in four innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. Apparently Manuel figured that, on Kendrick’s pitch count, he was spent. Thus he went to Moyer who couldn’t cling to a 2 run lead.
In light of Walker’s failed tryout, the closest to viable alternatives to Lidge are if lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero or Brett Myers can come off of the DL and straighten the ship. But Romero is NOT a viable closer. He is a late inning situational reliever good for an out or 2 to get through an inning. And while Myers thrived in the closer role down the regular season stretch in 2007, he has a track record such that one never knows what issue, suspect injury or, who knows what, is going throw him back on the shelf in the heat of the final 8 games of the regular season or the playoffs.
For the scores of all of Saturday’s games click here.
The Phillies hope to salvage a series split with Sunday’s final as Joe Blanton takes the mound opposed by Dave Bush for the Brewers. On Monday, the Phils return home to finish out the regular season with 4 games against the Houston Astros and 3 against the NL East 3rd place Florida Marlins. In the series opener on Monday, lefthander Cole Hamels is scheduled to oppose former Phil Yorman Bazardo for the Astros.
For all of Sunday’s and Monday’s games, click here and here.
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