The Phils opened a 4 game set with the Cardinals tonight. Fresh off the DL, Joe Blanton got his first start of the season and looked very good through 6 innings, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits. Thanks to a double and a run scored by Jayson Werth in the 5th inning those 6 good innings were enough to take Phils into the 7th with the score tied at 1. Blanton probably should have taken a seat on the bench after that, but desperate to avoid using the bullpen anymore than necessary, Charlie Manuel pressed Blanton into service for one more inning and it almost worked. Having only thrown 60 pitches in his last rehab start and with his pitch count up over 70 heading into the 7th Blanton definitely appeared to be tiring and allowed a leadoff homer to break the tie. He did retire 2 of the next 3 batters though before finding himself in a jam with 2 out and 2 on.
I am not totally convinced he couldn't have gotten out of the jam himself, but Charlie decided not to take any chances and brought in Nelson Figeuroa to get out of it. Unfortunately he could not, allowing a bases clearing a double and an RBI single to allot St.Louis a 6-1 lead. Jayson Werth and Chase Utley added late homers after that but it wasn't enough as the Phils dropped the series opener 6-3. It was a tough loss but it was great to see Blanton pitch so well. If J.A Happ can comeback just as strong in a couple of weeks then I think the Phils rotation will be okay. The bullpen is another story but Brad Lidge provided a positive sign tonight with a 1-2-3 9th inning, that included 2 strikeouts and seemingly the command he was missing all last season. If nothing else he and J.C Romero could bolster the back of the bullpen when they're ready but the Phils might need one more to sure up the bullpen as whole. Perhaps when he's healthy again Ryan Madson will be that arm. For now anyway the Phils remain in first as the Mets dropped their 3rd in a row today.
2 comments:
I get the feeling that Charlie Manuel goes to his bullpen a little too early sometimes and this was one of those times. Also one day the Phils are lighting up Johan Santana and the next only a measly 3 runs? I guess thats just the way baseball goes.
-to ph1llysports
yes that is the way baseball goes. get used it. I think charlie handles the bullpen pretty well. If anything he might wait too long to go it sometimes. There have been a couple instances this season where he may have gone the bullpen too soon but usually it's the other way around
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