• March 28, 2024

Notes From The Phillies’ 13-4 Loss To Atlanta

Kyle KendrickThe Philadelphia Phillies lost the second game of their series with the Atlanta Braves 13-4. Their record drops to 42-46.

  • Kyle Kendrick turned in another rough outing, giving up six runs on 11 hits and two walks over just five innings.
  • Kendrick began the game by allowing a lead-off solo home run to Andrelton Simmons. He then allowed a two-run shot to Dan Uggla in the second. The righty just kept getting himself into trouble, allowing multiple baserunners in every inning.
  • With the team in an early hole, the offense gave a phoned-in effort, never seriously challenging Atlanta starter Tim Hudson. Jimmy Rollins singled home a run in the third inning, but that was the only run the lineup could muster while the game was close.
  • The bullpen took over for Kendrick, and gave up seven runs of their own. Each pitcher that entered the game gave up at least one run.
  • Joe Savery pitched a clean sixth inning, but got waxed for four runs in the seventh.
  • Phillippe Aumont gave up a run on two hits in the eighth.
  • Jake Diekman got pounded for two runs on three hits in the ninth.
  • The final combined line for the Phils pitchers tonight? 13 runs on 19 hits, three doubles, one triple, three home runs allowed. Yikes.
  • In the bottom of the ninth, the Phils scored a couple of garbage-time runs with Michael Young hitting a two-run homer.
  • Darin Ruf singled and scored a run in his first major-league appearance of the year.

Final Thoughts

The Braves just ripped the Phillies a new one tonight. Atlanta’s bats came out of the gates red hot, and they stayed that way for nine innings. They completely blew the Philadelphia pitching staff away.

This was a terrible point in the year for Kyle Kendrick to revert back to his old form. Kendrick looked lost on the mound tonight, struggling through a short five-inning performance. His ERA has risen to 3.90, and he’s given up 10 runs in his last 11 innings.

The Phillies made a roster move before the game, placing Ryan Howard on the 15-day disabled list and calling up Darin Ruf from Triple-A.

Why in the world did this move take this long to happen?

Its been painfully obvious all year that Howard hasn’t been himself. He’s been laboring at the plate, with just 11 home runs on the season. He’s been complaining of knee pain all season, and the team has been forced to sit him down a night or two every week over the last month in order to keep his pain tolerable.

A hobbled Howard was doing the team no good. Many people have been crying out for the Phillies to give Howard some time off to get himself right, while at the same time giving Ruf an opportunity to prove himself.

And Ruben Amaro waits until a critical 10-game homestand with the fate of the season on the line to make a move like this? This move should have been done at least a month ago. Howard could have gotten his rest, and possibly could have rejoined the team by now. Ruf was wasting away at Lehigh Valley, there’s nothing more for him to learn in the minors. He could have been up with the team, getting himself adjusted to life in the majors, and possibly making some kind of positive impact.

Instead, we have now have Howard down for the count, and Ruf thrown into the fire with season hanging in the balance. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved, and its hard to expect Ruf to come in and contribute during this crucial homestand that will determine whether or not the Phillies are buyers or sellers.

Denny Basens

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paulman
paulman
July 6, 2013 11:53 pm

Sunday’s Series Fame Win is the most important game of the Season Year to Date.. If they can somehow win 2 of 3 versus the Hraves, then the Nats Series becomes that much more relavant.. It aloe are that only the NL East Wiiner will make the Playoffs the way the Pirates, Cards & Reds are Playing
Phils need to focus on Winning the BL Eastcsnd they have to win this this Series, bottom line

mhenski
mhenski
July 7, 2013 7:41 am

absolutely brutal game. gas can bullpen is not capable of shutting anyone down and when you got starting pitchers that can be a gas can any game like lannan, kendrick & pettibone you are in some serious trouble.

I know Kendrick has pitched great this year for the most part but now that hitting weather is here I expect his ERA to go up around 4.5.

Regarding Ruf I think Phillies fans have too much stock in Ruf and Tommy Joseph. Ruf could make it in the bigs as he has always been a 300+ hitter but Tommy has no future here and no future in MLB.