• March 19, 2024

Notes From The Phillies’ 3-1 Loss To San Francisco

burnett2The Philadelphia Phillies lost their fourth straight game on Wednesday night, falling to the Giants 3-1. Their record drops to 43-58.

  • A.J. Burnett pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out eight. 
  • Burnett received a no-decision, and lowered his ERA to 3.86.
  • The Phillies offense managed just one run on seven hits.
  • Marlon Byrd went 1-4, and drove in the team’s only run in the ninth inning.
  • Darin Ruf started for Ryan Howard and first base, and went 0-2.
  • Andres Blanco played third, and went 0-3.
  • Carlos Ruiz returned to the lineup, and went 2-4 with a double.
  • Ben Revere played center and went 2-4 with a couple of singles.
  • Domonic Brown started in left, and went 1-3.
  • Jimmy Rollins went 1-4 with a double.
  • Jonathan Papelbon had another poor outing, allowing three runs on a hit and two walks in the ninth inning. His ERA increased to 1.96.

Final Thoughts

Yesterday, I commented that I believed Jonathan Papelbon wasn’t going anywhere.

There just hasn’t been a whole lot of buzz for Papelbon despite the solid season that he’s been putting together because of the vesting option that Phillies’ village idiot General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. allowed him to have in his already ridiculous contract.

Now Papelbon himself seems to be out to sabotage any chance that the team has of moving him by putting together some terrible performances on the eve of the deadline. The closer has now cost the team wins in two straight games, getting hit around for four total earned runs and being credited with a blown save and a loss.

I’d be very surprised at this point if the Phillies are able to get anything done with Papelbon before the deadline.

Also of note from tonight’s game is just how far from grace that Ryan Howard has fallen. Not only is Howard now in a platoon situation with Darin Ruf, but I think it says a lot that Ryne Sandberg opted to use Grady Sizemore as a pinch-hitter for A.J. Burnett in the eighth inning over Howard.

Howard is a guy that has traditionally done very well as a pinch-hitter, but the team just has absolutely no confidence in him these days.

 

Denny Basens

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