The Phillies latest scoreless string hit fifteen innings on Monday before they scored 3 runs in the seventh inning off of Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson and reliever Peter Moylan.  But the Braves, who roughed-up Joe Blanton 3 runs in the first inning and 3 more in the third, quickly bounced back in bottom of the seventh with 1st baseman Troy Glaus’ 3 run shot off of reliever Chad Durbin.  The moribund Phils offense continued through horrific straights as the Phillies lost their series opener to the Braves by a 9-3 score and fall from 1st place.

The Phils now trail the Braves by 1/2 game in the NL East.   Florida and  Washington each routed their opposition but remained 3 1/2 games off of the pace.  The Mets were bludgeoned in their game to San Diego and are now tied with the Marlins and Nationals with all 3 teams at the .500 level.

The bottom-line on this one is that Blanton was pounded and the offense again was wont to produce anything despite Charlie Manuel’s shook-up batting order which had Ross Gload leading off and playing rightfield, in place of  Jayson Werth who was given the game off.  Manuel also inserted Greg Dobbs at 3rd base replacing Placido Polanco.  Both of them amassed the sum total of 1 walk in 6 plate appearances.  The Phils collected a total of 6 hits for the game, 4 of them in the 3 run seventh.  This was another in an ugly, ugly losing slump.   Manager Charlie Manuel got himself tossed from the game on a hit-batsmen call where the home plate umpire’s call was overturned by the rest of the umpiring crew.

There’s nothing much more that one can say on this one.  Those wishing to can read the game recap here and the game’s pitch-by-pitch account here.

The only bright spot for the Phils was that closer Brad Lidge returned from the DL and tossed a 13 pitch clean eighth inning.
To view the scores of all of Monday’s MLB games, click here.

In Tuesday’s game 2, lefthander Cole Hamels is slated in a Must-Win game, to go against Tim Hudson.  In Wednesday’s series final, Kyle Kendrick is opposed by Derek Lowe.

To view all of Tuesday’s games, click here.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 at 12:57 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary
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