Game Recap:
Brad Lidge blew his 10th save of the season as the Astros scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to rally past the Phils last night.
What went right?
Ryan Howard went 1-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Pedro Feliz was 2-4 with an RBI.
Ben Francisco had a pinch hit RBI in the eighth inning.
Carlos Ruiz went 1-2 with an RBI.
Miguel Cairo was 2-4.
Joe Blanton pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-5.
Jayson Werth went 0-4.
Brad Lidge blew his 10th save of the year, allowing two runs on two hits in two thirds of an inning. He walked two batters and struck out one.
Game Analysis:
That's enough, Brad Lidge. Last night felt like a game from 2008. The Phillies were down, but managed to come back in the late innings and turn the game over to their bullpen. Unlike 2008, the Phillies couldn't keep the lead, as Brad Lidge blew another save, giving him ten blown saves on the season. If there is one thing that is keeping the Phillies from being even better than last season, it is Brad Lidge this year. Last year, the Phillies never lost a game that they led going into the ninth inning. This year, it's a whole different story.
Lidge has been nothing but trouble all year, and every time it looks like he's turned the corner, he ends up right back where he started from. Last night should have been easy. Lidge struck the first batter out, then ran an 0-2 count on the second batter, only to have him work a walk. By the time Kaz Matsui had come up, the bases were loaded, and somehow, there was another out. Of course, Matsui has killed the Phils before, and he did it again last night. Last year, Lidge would have worked through this, but it's not 2008 anymore.
Brett Myers came back last night and pitched a scoreless eighth inning, getting out of some trouble when he walked a batter. Lidge is shot as a closer this year. His nerves are gone, and there's nothing left to try and fix. Myers needs to be made the closer, today. It's time to make a change, Charlie.
Today, Cole Hamels (8-8, 4.26 ERA) can hopefully keep his scoreless innings streak alive as he faces Bud Norris (3-3, 6.61 ERA).
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