Game Recap:
In their first matchup of the season, the Mets pounded the Phillies for nine runs on ten hits as they won their eighth game in a row.
What went right?
You know what? When you lose to the Mets by eight runs, nothing went right. This team isn't playing well at all right now.
What went wrong?
Where should I start?
Placido Polanco went 0-4.
Chase Utley was 0-2.
Ryan Howard went 0-4 with two strikeouts.
Kyle Kendrick lasted only five innings, giving up four runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Danys Baez was even worse, giving up four runs on two hits in a single inning. He walked a batter and didn't strike anyone out.
Brad Lidge came back...and allowed a home run to Rod Barajas.
Game Analysis:
The Phillies needed to come out last night and set a tone against the New York Mets. Over the last few seasons, the Phils have had their way with the Mets when it mattered most, but last night, the wrong kind of tone was set. The Phillies couldn't get anything going on offense, and the pitching was even worse. All of that put together made for an awful game that leaves people wondering what this team can do right at the moment.
Kyle Kendrick has got to get out of the starting rotation, now. He's doing nothing but putting the Phillies in deep holes that they have to get out of at the plate. Last night, it was more of the same, as he allowed two home runs in the second inning. Just like that, the Mets had a 3-0 lead. Even after the Phils got one run back, Kendrick struggled, and once he gave up a home run to Rod Barajas, I was done with him. Whatever magic he had working for him in the spring isn't there anymore, and he needs to take a trip down to Lehigh Valley or the bullpen. Joe Blanton can't get back soon enough.
That wasn't all from the pitching side of things, though. Danys Baez continued his horrid start to the year, and his four runs that he allowed bumped his ERA up to a lovely 9.00 for the season. Considering that Ryan Madson just got put on the disabled list with a broken toe for kicking a chair, Baez is going to have to get his act together right now. The Phillies can't have pitchers struggling at a time where half the bullpen has already spent time on the disabled list. Oh, and Brad Lidge came back last night, too. The first batter he faced happened to be Rod Barajas, and he hit his second home run of the night. Welcome back, Lidge. Apparently, not much has changed from last year, and that doesn't exactly fill my heart with much joy, either.
Did I mention that Rod Barajas, of the 2007 Phillies, hit half his total of home runs from that season last night? Yes, he only had four with the Phils in 2007, but he hit two last night. Isn't that wonderful?
I'm not going to get into the offense again, because it's becoming the same old song and dance over and over again. The team needs Jimmy Rollins back. It's that simple. The rest of these guys have got to start hitting better, because one run and six hits while Kyle Kendrick is on the mound isn't going to get it done for this team right now. It's just not. Things have got to turn around on all fronts, and they will, I hope. I'm just glad this slump is happening early in the season.
Today, Roy Halladay (4-1, 1.80 ERA) goes for his fifth win of the season. Opposing him will be Mike Pelfrey (4-0, 0.69 ERA)...really? Mike Pelfrey is that good right now? When the hell did that happen?
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