Notes From The Phillies’ 6-5 Loss To Pittsburgh

The Philadelphia Phillies lost the second game of their series with the Pirates, falling 6-5. Their record drops to 40-45.

• John Lannan gave up four runs over five innings. The lefty pitched in trouble throughout the night, allowing 11 hits and three walks.
• Lannan pitched his way out of trouble throughout the game. In the second inning, the starter gave up three singles to load the bases with no outs. However, he was able to get a strikeout and then a double-play ball to escape unscathed. Then in the third, Lannan put runners at the corners with one out, but managed back-to-back strikeouts to finish the frame.
• Lannan finally broke in the fifth inning, allowing an RBI single to Russell Martin and a three-run homer to Pedro Alvarez.
• The offense was able to get two runs in the fifth inning, thanks to a pinch-hit RBI single by Kevin Frandsen, and an error that allowed Michael Young to reach with two outs.
• Young went 0-5 out the lead-off spot tonight.
• Phillippe Aumont had another rocky appearance. The reliever allowed a triple to Andrew McCutchen. Aumont then hit a batter with a pitch, and gave up an RBI double.
• Jake Diekman relieved Aumont, and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch. Diekman did strike out five batters, however.
• Domonic Brown hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning, but the team’s rally fell short with Delmon Young striking out to end the game.
• Young did pick up three hits in the game, raising his average to .267.

Final Thoughts

Phillippe Aumont has been one of the most disappointing aspects of the team this year.

After performing well at the end of the 2012 season, Aumont was expected to come in this year and be a stabilizing force in the bullpen that could routinely handle the seventh inning, and occasionally spell Mike Adams as the eighth inning set up man.

But instead, Aumont has been nothing short of a disaster. He’s got no confidence, and he’s allowing himself to get lit up by opposing lineups every time he takes the hill. He cost the team the game tonight by allowing the Pirates to tack on two additional runs in the sixth inning.

It’s a shame that this kid has no guts, because he’s got all of the physical tools he needs to be a top reliever. He throws hard, has a good breaking pitch, and he’s got a huge frame. Now if he only was able to clear his head and bring some anger and intensity to his game instead of holding himself back by being timid and not trusting his stuff, he’d be the pitcher the Phils need him to be.