Game Recap:
The Phillies could only muster two runs off of J.A. Happ tonight, and they dropped their third straight game in this series to Houston.
What went right?
Placido Polanco went 1-4 with an RBI.
Jayson Werth was 1-4 with a solo home run.
Roy Halladay got hit with a loss, but it wasn't his fault. He allowed just three runs on six hits in seven innings of work. He walked two, struck out five and also went 1-2 at the plate with a run scored.
What went wrong?
Jimmy Rollins was 0-4 with a strikeout.
Chase Utley went 0-3 with a strikeout.
Ben Francisco went 0-3 and was picked off third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, which ended the last threat the Phillies had.
The Phillies have scored all of six runs against the Houston Astros...in three games.
Game Analysis:
Another day, another poor showing at the plate for the Phillies in this series against Houston. Somehow, just as everyone got back off the disabled list, the offense decided to go south once again, and this time it's costing the Phillies late in the season. In June, I said having a slump then was better than having one in late August or September. Well, it's late August now, and this is not the time for the bats to not be working. For the third game in a row, the Phillies wasted a solid starting pitching effort, and this one was from Roy Halladay.
There's nothing wrong with the way Halladay pitched tonight. He did everything that he was supposed to do out on the mound, but he got no support from his offense. He did allow two home runs tonight and didn't have his best stuff out there, but even still, he deserved better than this loss. The Phillies just couldn't pick him up on offense, and there are times when even Roy Halladay can use some help. The Phils bailed him out in that win against the Mets not too long ago, but tonight, they couldn't get the job done. It's starting to get old.
In each of the first three games of this series, the starting pitching has gone into the seventh inning. It was expected from Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay, but to have Joe Blanton do it as well was a nice surprise. The only problem is that the Phillies have managed just two runs in each of the three games, with one game going into the 16th inning. Houston does not have that good of a pitching staff. In fact, the Astros are ranked 12th in the National League with a 4.24 ERA, and that's including tonight. When you throw in the fact that Houston is also ranked 12th in the National League in opponent's batting average, it's pretty pathetic how the Phils have played in this series so far. Houston was ripe for the picking coming into Philadelphia, and this was a series that this team needed to win. With a good showing in these four games, the Phillies could have easily gained ground on the Braves, who blew a 10-1 lead to Colorado today, or the Giants and Cardinals, who both also lost today. Instead, they're letting the Braves stay two and a half games up, and the Giants and Cardinals aren't losing any ground. It's the exact thing that the New York Mets did back in 2007 and 2008. Right now, the Phillies aren't winning the games that they're supposed to win.
It does come back to the offense, as well. When the starting pitching allows eight earned runs in three games, you should be able to win at least one or two of those games. Instead, the bats have gone cold once again. The team didn't have many chances tonight off of former Phillie J.A. Happ, but the ones that they did have were wasted. In the sixth inning, the Phils should have been able to push more than a single run across with runners on second and third and just one out, especially with the heart of the lineup coming up. Instead, Chase Utley popped out, and Jayson Werth grounded out to second to end the inning. In the very next inning, the Phillies had runners on the corners with two outs, and Ben Francisco gets picked off of third base to end the inning. You can not get picked off of third base in any situation, but to have it happen with your team down a run in the bottom of the seventh inning is inexcusable. Not only that, but it's the second time in this series that a runner has been picked off in scoring position.
I don't know what has to change right now, but something has to be done. The Phillies had to win three out of four of the games in this series to feel safe before heading out west on their road trip. Instead, they've lost the first three games, and the offense can't seem to do anything right at the moment. Tomorrow is a must win game for this team. They have to at least take one and not get swept.
It'll be Kyle Kendrick (8-6, 4.58 ERA) on the mound for the Phils. He'll be opposed by Wandy Rodriguez (9-12, 4.00 ERA).
No comments:
Post a Comment