Game Recap:
Roy Halladay pitched a complete game, but got hit with the loss, as the Phillies could only muster one run on six hits against Zach Duke and the Pittsburgh bullpen.
What went right?
This won't take long.
Ryan Howard went 3-4 with a run scored.
Roy Halladay got the loss tonight, but it wasn't because of him. He pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on nine hits. He walked one batter and struck out six.
What went wrong?
The Phillies had three errors.
Placido Polanco went 0-4.
Jimmy Rollins was 0-4.
Ben Francisco was 0-4.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-3.
Juan Castro had an RBI, but also had one of the three errors the Phils had.
Game Analysis:
Sometimes, after riding a hot offense for a few games, the offense goes cold. That was the case tonight, as the Phillies managed only one run and six hits in support of Roy Halladay. The Doc got pegged with a loss tonight, but he didn't deserve it. Nine hits and two runs in a complete game effort is certainly worth getting a win, but tonight he couldn't do it. The Phillies just didn't have an answer for Zach Duke and the Pittsburgh bullpen, as they were shutdown against the Pirates.
The offense just had nothing tonight from the start of the game. When your top three hitters in the lineup go a combined 1-12, then you know something is wrong. Tonight, that was the case for the Phillies, as only Shane Victorino was able to get a hit from the top of the lineup. Ryan Howard had three of the six hits for the Phillies, and no other position player had more than a single hit, meaning the Phils had very few chances to score runs, and they didn't take advantage of those chances when they had them. In the fifth inning, Juan Castro brought Ryan Howard home with a single, but Jayson Werth was thrown out at the plate. That was the last real chance the Phillies had to take the lead, and instead they let Pittsburgh take it back in the very next inning when the Pirates manufactured a run. It just wasn't a pretty game tonight.
I'm not going to pin this loss on Roy Halladay, because I can't. Anytime that a pitcher can throw a complete game loss, something is going right on the mound, and something is going very wrong at the plate. Halladay was his usual dominant self, allowing just two runs in his effort. However, his nine hits were a bit high, but he still managed to get out of a lot of trouble, even with his defense committing three errors with him out there. This is the second start in a row that the offense hasn't done much for Halladay while he's been out there, and I hope it's not a trend, because even Roy Halladay needs runs to win games. Losing 2-1 complete games is not a fun thing to keep doing during the season.
Regardless, this is just a single game, and it's nothing to worry about. With this offense, you are going to get games where they just can't seem to score runs, and one of those games was tonight. Roy Halladay pitched very well, but there's no answer for a bad offense. Luckily, the Phils still have a decent lead on first place in the National League East, and I fully expect them to bounce back as this week goes on. One loss is nothing to get worked up about, not in a long Major League Baseball season.
Tomorrow, the Phillies open a two game series against the Cubs. Jamie Moyer (5-2, 4.57 ERA) will face off against Tom Gorzelanny (1-4, 3.60 ERA).
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