Things went from bad to worse for the Phils lineup tonight. While they could only muster 2 runs last night, they came up completely empty in this one. In fact they managed just 5 hits all night long and all of them came off starter, Ross Ohlendorf. With guys like Octavio Dotel and Joel Hanrahan the back of Pirates bullpen is actually very good. Believe it or not with the win tonight they're now 22-0 when leading after 8. So there's no shame in going hitless against them. Ohlendorf is a different story. He came into tonight an imperfect 0-6 with an ERA near 5, yet the Phils had nary a hard hit ball against him and really threatened him only a few times.
In the 3rd inning Dane Sardinha beat out an infield single and Jimmy Rollins was hit in the helmet with a pitch to put 2 on with 2 out for Raul Ibanez but popped out to end the inning. Later Ibanez crushed a 1 out double in the 6th but Jayson Werth followed with a strikeout and after an intentional walk to Ryan Howard, Ben Francisco was robbed of a game tying hit on a lucky diving grab by Lastings Milledge. Finally in the 7th, Wilson Valdez singled and stole second but he too was stranded as Sardhina struck out and Shane Victorino, pinch hitting, grounded out to end the inning. They never had another base runner after that.
The Phils now have just 5 runs in their last 3 games which just goes to show how many holes there are in the Phils lineup when Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, and Carlos Ruiz are all missing from it. The victim of those holes on this evening, was the ageless Jamie Moyer who took the loss, despite allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 8 over 6 innings. It was really a hard luck night all around for him as Pittsburgh got their runs in 4th on back to back swinging bunts that were so slow no one could field them. Otherwise the Phils and Pirates might still be playing right now in extra innings. Instead they lost 2-0 and fall to just 41-37 on the season. It just makes you wonder how much longer they can hang in there until the injuries are too much overcome.
Speaking of injuries the Phils finally got some good news on the injury front today as it was revealed that Brian Schneider and his jammed thumb won't have to go on DL. He's not a great catcher but compared to Sardhina he would be an improvement in lineup. So if nothing else the Phils have his return to look forward to. Who knows maybe their luck is finally turning this season.
2 comments:
It seems like a not so good team called the Pirates manages to always beat a pretty good team called the Phillies. I guess this season we can contribute that to all of these injuries but its only a matter of time before everyone comes back and the team is once again the best in the NL.
-to ph1llysports
well it's going to be 2 months before Chase Utley comes back but they could at least get Carlos Ruiz and Placido Polanco back within a few weeks and be okay after that. If they just hnng in there until that time then yes they can once again be the best in the NL, but that's a big if
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