Phillies Offense Goes Flat in Florida Shutout
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Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels had easily his best outing thus far on Sunday, but Marlins lefty Nate Robertson was just a little better, despite walking 4 as the Phils have scored just 1 run in eighteen innings. 2rd baseman Dan Uggla drove in both runs on a second inning solo homer and a ninth inning double off of reliever Ryan Madson. The Phillies offense has suddenly gone flat as Florida shut them out by a 2-0 score.
The Marlins had at least 1 runner on in each of the first five innings managing only the 1 run on Uggla’s 2nd inning homer. Hamels then retired the next 9 hitters in a row before 3rd baseman Jorge Cantu opened the ninth with a single sending Hamels to the showers. At that point, Hamels had thrown 102 pitches while giving up 7 hits and striking out 8 and walking none in a losing cause. When Uggla followed with an RBI double off of Madson, the 2nd run was charged to Hamels. Uggla finished the game going 3 for 4 with both RBIs.
But the story of the game, and the last eighteen innings including Saturday’s 5-1 loss, was the total flatness of an offense which was averaging nearly 8 runs per game. Phillies hitters left 9 runners stranded while collecting 4 hits. Florida pitchers recorded 7 strikeouts. Winning pitcher Robertson walked 4 in his 6 1/3 outing. Relievers Burke Badenhop and Leo Nunez retired the final 8 Phils hitters of the game, 3 of them by strikeouts. Nunez recorded his 3rd save of the season.
The AP recap of the game for Yahoo sports recalls the only 2 Phillies threats:
Robertson ran into trouble in the second, working around three walks before Hamels flew out to left for the final out.
He then escaped another jam in the fourth. After Jayson Werth reached on an infield single, Ben Francisco followed with a ground-rule double over the center field fence and held the lead runner at third.
Robertson then struck out Juan Castro and got Carlos Ruiz to line out to short center. Cameron Maybin’s throw sailed all the way to the Marlins on-deck circle where Robertson was able to retrieve the ball. Hamels then ended the inning by grounding out.
The Phillies are now 1-9 in 10 starts by Hamels against Florida.
To view the scores of all of Sunday’s MLB games, click here.
The Phils have the day off on Monday before beginning a 9 game road trip which opens with a 3 game series with the Atlanta Braves who still smart from being no-hit by Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies.
Kyle Kendrick, who has been pounded for 11 runs in 5 2/3 innings of 2 outings, having only lasted 1 2/3 innings in his most recent outing, is opposed in the series opener by 2nd year pitcher Tommy Hanson for the Braves.
To view all of Monday’s and Tuesday’s games, click here and here.
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