The Phillies fell 5-2 to the New York Mets on Friday night.
Cliff Lee wasn’t sharp at the beginning of the game, and put the Phillies in an instant 3-0 hole to begin the game. Lee gave up back-to-back doubles to start the inning, and then gave up a two-run homerun to Jason Bay.
Lee was able to settle down after the poor first inning, and allowed just one run in his final six innings of work. Unfortunately for the lefthander, the damage had already been done. Any multi-run deficit is going to be difficult for the Phillies’ mediocre offense to overcome, and tonight was no exception to that rule.
Though the offense managed 10 hits, the team was unable to sustain a rally.
Each time it looked as though the offense might be on their way to a productive inning, they failed to capitalize on their opportunity. Their best chance to get back into the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rollins and Jim Thome had each recorded a base hit to give the Phils runners on first and third with one out, but John Mayberry and Carlos Ruiz were unable to come through, striking out and lining out respectively.
Then in the seventh inning, Freddy Galvis led off the inning with a single, but pinch-hitter Laynce Nix quickly spoiled his success with a double-play. Galvis recorded the first home run of his career in the loss.
The Phillies’ bullpen also struggled to keep the game close in the final innings. Kyle Kendrick pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but was pulled in the ninth inning after loading the bases and recording just one out. Joe Savery entered the game in place of Kendrick, and walked in a run before recording a double-play to end the inning.
Strong pitching and timely hitting have been the keys to the Phillies’ three wins this season. On Friday night, they received neither of them, and the early 3-0 hole proved to be too much for them to overcome.
Cliff Lee gave up 2 HR’s tonight who has given up a lot of HR’s all Spring long, which tells you he is getting the ball up and over too much of the Plate this year and something to keep an eye on as the Season progresses.. He’s obviously most effective (like most pitchers) when keeping the ball down and off the plate.. His fastball is not fast enough to blow hitters away and he must work that off his off-speed,slider pitchers to make it more effective..
Bullpen, hmmm…
Lee will straighten out.
Galvis, si…
Long season baby.
Lee can’t be perfect all the time….blame Amaro for ignoring the obvious holes with Howard out till mid-season and Utley’s knee problems….the farm system has no solution and Amaro put all his chips into the starting rotation….
Let’s not panic here.
Fightin’s won 102 last year and you know what that got them.
Life and baseball takes a fighting spirit and some luck, along with good timing.
180 million dollar payroll and a lineup of nobody that can hit. How is that possible? You are allowed to have the 2nd highest payroll in baseball and used that money on a pathetic hitting team. Reuben has alot of questions to answer if Im part owner. Atleast the friggin Yanks have a lineup littered with studs. Utley has held this franchise hostage for years. He should of been moved 2 years ago. Hes had 4 good years in a career and people speak of him as a HOF. Comical. Check Roberto Alomars resume for a reference. Our whole hitting hopes rests on a .260 hitter who strikes out 200 times a year, Very scary.
45% of the payroll is the starting rotation
10% of the payroll is the bullpen
55% of the payroll is pitching
20% of the payroll is NOT playing (Utley & Howard)
that gives you 25% for the rest of the team…
poor management to not take money paid to Papelbon and bring in a bat or two.