• March 19, 2024

Notes From The Phillies’ 9-1 Win Over Milwaukee

howardmarlinsThe Philadelphia Phillies won their fourth straight game on Thursday afternoon, taking down the Brewers 9-1. Their record improves to 41-51.

  • David Buchanan shut the Brewers down, tossing seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits. 
  • Buchanan struck out five, and lowered his ERA to 4.40.
  • The Phillies looked like they were on their way to another shutout, but broke out with a seven-run effort in the eighth inning.
  • The team’s scoring in the inning didn’t start until they had two outs. With two out and two on, Jimmy Rollins came up with a two-run single. Ryan Howard and Cody Asche each hit a pair of ground-rule doubles to drive in a combined three runs. Domonic Brown finished the scoring with a two-run single.
  • Howard added two more runs with a two-run homer in the ninth.
  • Tony Gwynn started in center, and went 0-5 with a walk.
  • Marlon Byrd went 0-3, but worked two walks.
  • Cameron Rupp went 1-3 with a double.
  • Antonio Bastardo pitched a scoreless eighth.
  • Jake Diekman mopped up with a clean ninth.

Final Thoughts

Give the Phillies credit.

Sweeping a four-game series on the road is a difficult feat for any team to accomplish, and they actually managed to do it against a pretty good Milwaukee Brewer team.

However, all is not well. Even during their few high points of this season, the organization manages to do things that frustrate and upset me. The team made a very puzzling move after the game, calling up veteran outfielder Grady Sizemore and optioning starter David Buchanan down to Triple-A.

I don’t have a problem with the team calling up Sizemore. Goodness knows they could use any and all offensive firepower that they can get.

However, David Buchanan did not deserve to lose his spot in the rotation, or be sent down.

In his 10 starts, Buchanan had only given up four runs or more twice. He had been a steady presence, and I’d much rather have seen the team pull the plug on veteran Roberto Hernandez, a guy who we know is only going to be here for one year, and a guy who has also hit his ceiling years ago.

Why not keep a young guy like Buchanan in the rotation and continue to allow him to pitch and develop in the big leagues? During his time in the big leagues, he’s shown that he can hold his own and possibly become a decent fourth or fifth starter. There’s nothing he can achieve by returning to the minors at this point.

Denny Basens

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