Game Recap:
Aaron Harang controlled the Phillies for seven innings, while the Reds were able to hit Jamie Moyer and the bullpen for five runs, ending the Phillies five game winning streak.
What went right?
Not a whole lot tonight.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 with his 14th home run of the season.
Jamie Moyer wasn't horrible out there, allowing just three runs on nine hits in six innings of work. He struck out two and walked one.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, batting in the one and two spots of the lineup, went 0-8.
Jayson Werth went 0-4 with three strikeouts.
Pedro Feliz went 0-3 with two strikeouts, and he grounded into a double play.
Chad Durbin pitched just two thirds of an inning and allowed two runs on two hits.
Game Analysis:
So much for that winning streak. After bashing the Nationals and outlasting the Reds last night, the Phillies bats went cold quickly tonight. Aaron Harang just had their number, and that will happen during a long season, so it's nothing too bad, but it is a problem that the Phils wasted a decent start by Jamie Moyer. While Moyer could have been better, he certainly pitched better than in his past three starts, lasting six innings and giving up less than five runs for the first time since April 26 against Florida. He did get knocked around early, as the Reds managed to score in each of the first three innings, but he settled down after that, and actually looked a little bit like the Jamie Moyer from last season, which is a good sign.
I know the bullpen can't be counted on to keep a deficit where it is every night, but Chad Durbin made life even harder for the Phillies tonight. After being dominated by Aaron Harang for six innings, I'm sure the Phils were hoping they could tack on a few runs against Cincinnati's bullpen. Instead, Durbin allowed the Reds to score twice against him in the seventh inning, and a two run hole turned into a four run canyon, and the game was basically over. It was just one isolated incident for now, so it's no big deal, but if this happens more often, it could be an issue.
Winning streaks always have to come to an end, it just sucks when they end like this one. No one knows how many more decent starts Moyer has in his arm, and the Phillies let one go to waste today. They only managed four hits and two walks, compared to ten strikeouts. Everyone wants Jamie to get his 250th win, and it's going to come sooner or later, but hopefully the next time he steps out onto the mound, he can pitch like this and get some run support. A few more runs tonight on some missed chances (three of the four hits the Phillies had were doubles), and I'd be talking about Moyer's milestone win. Instead, it's just a loss, and another "you'll get it next time, Jamie." Things like that are never fun.
Tomorrow, the Phillies look to get back on the winning path as Joe Blanton (1-3, 6.86 ERA) heads to the hill to face Micah Owings (3-4, 3.95 ERA). I've had Owings as the starting pitcher for the Reds three days in a row, I've got to get it right eventually. The start time tomorrow is 12:35, so hopefully you can watch the game, or at least listen to it on the radio, like I'm going to do.
Go Phillies!
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