Game Recap:
Roy Oswalt left last night's game with back stiffness, and the bullpen couldn't keep the lead, allowing Florida to score twice in the top of the seventh as the Marlins took the first game of the three game set against the Phils.
What went right?
Shane Victorino didn't have a hit, but he walked twice and scored two runs.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-4 with a run scored.
Raul Ibanez went 2-4 with two RBI.
Before leaving due to his back injury, Roy Oswalt pitched well, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out six.
What went wrong?
Ross Gload started in right field, and was 0-3.
Placido Polanco, usually the most patient hitter in the lineup, swung at the first pitch with two outs in the ninth inning and flew out to left field.
Roy Oswalt left the game in the top of the seventh inning with a back injury.
The bullpen combination of J.C. Romero and Danys Baez couldn't keep the one run lead that the Phils had. Romero gave up a hit to the only batter he faced, and Baez only recorded one out while giving up two hits, a walk and allowing two runs to score.
The Phillies left eight men on base.
Game Analysis:
After back to back complete games by Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, you would expect that the Phillies' bullpen would have been well rested and able to do what they needed to do if called into action last night. Well, you would have been wrong. After Roy Oswalt strained his back in the bottom of the sixth inning, J.C. Romero and Danys Baez allowed two runs to score in the top of the seventh, giving the Marlins a lead that they wouldn't give up. With the loss, the Phils fall to 9-4 on the season, but more importantly, they may have lost Oswalt for a little while.
While he was in the game, Oswalt looked very good. He gave up only four hits and two runs in six innings, and had the same command of the plate that he'd had in his first two starts this season. As long as he doesn't miss much, if any time with his back injury, the Phillies will be fine. After the game, it didn't look like a big injury, but you can never tell with a back issue. Oswalt could be fine one day, and then it could flare up the next. Hopefully, it's nothing, but the Phillies have to try and take it easy with him for the next few days to see how he responds.
That's still no excuse for how the bullpen pitched in the seventh inning, however. After the bullpen struggled in the first game against the Nationals, Halladay and Lee gave them a nice two games off before they were called back in last night. J.C. Romero did more of what he's done all season long, which is struggle in situational at bats, and Danys Baez allowed the game winning run to score. The bullpen might not be needed that much early in the season, but they have to be able to keep a lead when they are brought in to pitch. Against the Nationals, they couldn't keep the game close, and last night against the Marlins, they weren't able to keep the lead at all. The bullpen is still a question mark for this team, and something is more than likely going to have to be done about it.
Then, there's the offense. Last night started out fine, as the Phillies got two runs in the first inning off of Javier Vasquez, but then missed chance after chance throughout the rest of the game. Even after Raul Ibanez singled home another run in the fifth inning, there were just too many missed chances by the Phillies at the plate last night. That game shouldn't have even been a one run game going into the seventh inning. It should have been a much bigger lead for the Phillies. The ninth inning was even worse, as it took Leo Nunez all of four pitches to work around a walk to John Mayberry. Those four pitches resulted in three outs, and Mayberry was left at first base. This team has to be more patient in those situations. They can't waste chances against teams that they should beat.
Regardless, it's still just one game, and tonight is a new night. Cole Hamels (1-1, 5.59 ERA) pitches for the Phillies, and Anibal Sanchez (0-1, 6.97 ERA) will go for the Marlins.
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