Game Recap:
The Phillies committed two errors, and Miguel Olivo's 5-5 day at the plate ended with a walk off home run in the 10th inning for the Rockies.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 2-4 with a run scored.
Chase Utley was 3-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Ryan Howard was 3-5 and scored a run.
Wilson Valdez went 2-4.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino was 0-5.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-2 before leaving the game with a knee injury.
Chad Durbin didn't have his best stuff today, allowing the game winning home run in the 10th inning after struggling a little in the ninth. He allowed the one run on one hit. He also walked one and struck out one.
Game Analysis:
This game was ugly, no doubt about it. In their first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies, the Phils struggled in almost every aspect of the game and dropped the opener thanks to a walk off home run in the 10th inning. It just wasn't a fun game to be a part of, and now the Phillies have to play again in less than two hours.
For just the second time this season, Roy Halladay was unable to pick up the win for the Phillies. He didn't make it through the seventh inning for the first time with the Phils, bowing out after six and a third innings and ten hits. The Rockies didn't make it easy on him today, but his defense didn't help either, as the Phillies committed two errors and had a third changed in a later decision. Regardless, the defense couldn't bail Halladay out like he's helped bail the Phillies out of most of his starts so far this year. When the team had to make plays, they couldn't get it done, and Halladay wasn't making the same pitches that he's made this year. With both of those things working together, it can certainly lead to a loss.
The offense struggled today as well against Aaron Cook. The sinkerballer didn't have his best stuff today, giving up three runs and eight hits, but he did enough to keep the Rockies in the game, and in the end, that was enough. The biggest blow came when Carlos Ruiz had to leave the game with a knee injury in the fourth inning. With him gone, the Phillies had to turn to Paul Hoover at catcher, and while he had some good moments behind the plate, he struggled while at bat, striking out both times he came up during the game. Even with 11 hits, the Phillies didn't have their best showing at the plate, as they left nine men on base and were unable to turn several situations into run scoring chances. It's nothing to be worried about, as it's just a single game, but it might be something to keep an eye on, especially with Jimmy Rollins, Juan Castro and Carlos Ruiz all possibly injured at the moment.
It wasn't a good way to start the doubleheader, not in the least. Miguel Olivo killed the Phillies in the opener with five hits, and Roy Halladay couldn't get the job done. Now, it's up to the Phils to pick up the win in the second game and leave Denver with a series victory. Jamie Moyer (4-2, 4.38 ERA) will go up against Jason Hammel (0-2, 9.16 ERA)
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