The Phillies saw their six-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night, falling to the Boston Red Sox 7-5 in the second game of the series.
- Starter Joe Blanton has been excellent this season, but he just didn’t have it on Saturday. The righthander was hit early and often, giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in just 4.1 innings.
- Blanton gave up a career-high four homeruns, and his ERA shot up to 3.74.
- Although Blanton pitched poorly, the bullpen did a good job to hold the Red Sox down for the rest of the game, and give the Phillies a chance to come from behind.
- Raul Valdes, Joe Savery, and Jose Contreras combined for 4.2 scoreless innings. The three relievers allowed just two hits between them.
- The Phillies had opportunities to tie the game in the fifth and sixth inning. They began both innings with multiple runners on base, only to have any hopes of a rally killed by Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence grounding into double-plays.
- Carlos Ruiz had been spectacular out of the five-hole, but tonight he struggled, going 0-4 and leaving six runners on base.
- Five Philadelphia starters (John Mayberry, Shane Victorino, Ty Wigginton, Hector Luna, Freddy Galvis) had multi-hit games.
- Mayberry had three hits and a walk, increasing his average to .257. The Phillies need him to come out of his season-long funk, and become a reliable, productive hitter again.
- Hector Luna turned in a nice start at first base, picking up three hits and an RBI. He’s batting .417 since his call-up from the minor leagues.
- Freddy Galvis continued his improved offensive play with two hits and two RBI’s. His average is now up to .247 for the year, and .300 for the month of May.
Manuel with another dumb move keeping Blanton in to hit and pitch after Galvis’s homer cut the lead to 1
If Blanton was pitching better than keep him in but he sucked the entire game
Bring up a pinch hitter than a new arm to try and hold the lead to only 1
Phils are 1-1 now in Paulman’s 23 Game That decides their fate of the 2012 Season as far as repeating as NL East Division Winners…
The teams they will be facing over this Stretch have much more potent hitting line-ups than the recent clubs that the Phils beat (Cubs,Astros & Padres)
Phils Pitching have given up 7 HR’s to the Red Sox with the Cardinals,Dodgers,Marlins,Orioles,Nats and Mets upcoming on their Schedule. If Phils do not go 14-9 at least for these 23 games, I think it will be a long summer for the Phitn’s
I will keep everyone posted on how they do during this Crtical stritch of baseball against some of the better Teams they will face on their scheudle and of course NL East Games to jump ahead of the Mets,MArlins and cath up to the Nats… but Pitchers Lee,Hamels,Blanton and Kendricks are giving up too many long balls..