Game Recap:
Despite seven innings and seven strikeouts from Jamie Moyer, the Phillies only managed five hits and a single run for the second straight game as they lost to the Chicago Cubs.
What went right?
Ryan Howard was 1-4 with an RBI.
Jamie Moyer may have gotten the loss, but he pitched well, allowing just two runs on four hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
What went wrong?
Shane Victorino went 0-4.
Jayson Werth was 0-4.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-2.
Chad Durbin pitched one and a third innings and helped put the game out of reach, allowing two runs on one hit. He walked two and struck out two.
J.C. Romero didn't fare much better, giving up a single hit, but it was the one that allowed two runs to score on Chad Durbin's tab. He did strike out two, though.
Game Analysis:
For two games in a row, the Phillies have been unable to do anything on offense, but I'm not that worried yet. The starting pitching has been great, and the offense will get back on track, so everything that is happening right now with this team isn't anything to worry about at the moment. Two runs in their last 18 innings is a problem, but it's not anything major. This team will bounce back and play well again, it's that simple.
Tonight, Jamie Moyer may have gotten the loss, but like Roy Halladay last night, he pitched well enough to win. Anytime you can get seven innings and two runs allowed out of Jamie Moyer, something is going right, and that's all there is to it. If the Phils can't match his effort, he's going to lose, but he deserves to win in a situation like this. Tonight, that wasn't the case, but he'll have other chances as the season goes on. It's a shame to have him waste one of his best efforts on the season in a loss, but that's the way it has to be sometimes. Moyer pitched well, but the offense and bullpen let him down, so he got hit with the undeserved loss. It's a shame, but it's part of baseball.
For the last two games, the Phils haven't been able to get anything going on offense, but these stretches happen during a 162 game season. Remember, the Phillies scored 12 runs on Monday night, so this team can score runs whenever they please, but every team goes through stretches where they can't score. It just so happens that these droughts happen most often when a team has a high scoring output in their previous game. For the Phillies, it's been two games since they've had a good showing on offense, but this team isn't going to stay quiet for long. With everyone back on offense for the first time since the home opener, this team is going to score runs, it's just a matter of when, not if. Chase Utley came back tonight and batted third, and everyone that was in the season opener played on offense tonight. Runs are going to score, and if they get efforts from their starters like they did tonight, they have nothing to worry about.
I still don't think that this team has any issues at the moment. The Phils are still three games up in the National League East, and are the highest scoring team in the National League, so I don't think it's anything to worry about. The Phils are going to bounce back from this little downswing on offense, it's going to be just fine.
Tomorrow, the Phils go for the series split with the Cubs, as Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.49 ERA), faces off against Ryan Dempster (2-4, 3.49 ERA).
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