The Phils traveled to Chicago tonight to begin a series with the Cubs. J.A Happ got the start and wasn't quite as sharp as he had been, but he did enough holding Chicago to just 2 runs on 7 hits through 6 innings, while stranding a myriad of runners a long the way. Despite Happ's performance the Phils were still down 2-0 heading into the 6th inning. That is, until Jimmy Rollins slugged a 2 run homer to knot it up. Then in the top of the 8th Ryan Howard worked a bases loaded walk for a 3-2 Phils lead. Thanks to Ryan Madson that lead held up into the bottom of the 9th inning. Unfortunately Brad Lidge blew another save as Milton Bradley slapped a 1 out game tying single. So it came down to an extra inning battle of the bullpens and as has happened so many times on the road this season the Phils bullpen came through. Tyler Walker and Scott Eyre got through the 10th and 11th innings. Then in the top of the 12th Ben Francisco slugged a solo homer to put the Phils ahead 4-3. From there Chad Durbin closed it out in the bottom of the inning for the win, snapping the mini 3 game losing streak the Phils had been on. I can't figure out what is wrong with Brad Lidge this season. He was money in these situations last year and I don't understand what has changed since then. He looked fine in his last few save opportunities, but those came with the Phils leading by a few runs. He just seems to have this mental block now every time he comes into a game with the Phils only ahead by 1. It is incredible the Phils even won this game, considering they had just 3 hits all night, as Raul Ibanez, Chase Utley, and Pedro Feliz all went hitless. The only bright spot in the middle of the order was Ryan Howard who worked that walk and collected one of the 3 hits. I am not sure why the Phils lineup did so poorly tonight, but I would say for the most part it was good pitching by the Cubs, particularly Rich Harden who allowed just 2 runs on 2 hits in 7 innings, that did in the Phils lineup. Tomorrow should be an interesting night as Pedro Martinez makes his first start for the Phils. We'll what he has left in the tank soon enough. To make room for Pedro, Jamie Moyer was moved to the bullpen at least for now. You can bet though that if Pedro doesn't perform Moyer will be back in the rotation. Anyway so the Phils move to 62-48 overall and remain 3.5 games up in the NL East.
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2 comments:
Oh Brad Lidge, what am I going to do with you? Unfortunately it seems that Lidge isnt the only one faltering because the Phils just seem to not be able to get the offense going, other than J-Roll. Anywho they better turn this around or they're going to end up pulling a Mets.
-to ph1llysports
yeah hopefully they'll all get it back together before long. Apparently Brett Myers is coming back from the DL at the end of this month, so if nothing else if Lidge can't figure it out, we should be able to fall back on Myers who was the closer at the end of 2007, after as now, returning from an injury to a rotation that didn't need him for the time being
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