The Philadelphia Phillies had their three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night, falling 2-1 the Marlins in Miami. Their record drops to 5-6 on the season.
- The Miami Marlins may have no competitive future as long as Jeffrey Loria remains in control of their franchise, but they might have a real gem on their roster in rookie Jose Fernandez. Fernandez did it all for the Marlins, tossing six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. He had the Philadelphia batting order completely under his control, and even drove in a run at the plate. It was a great showing for the young starter.
- Cole Hamels turned in his first quality performance of the season, allowing one run over six innings. Hamels still wasn’t at his best tonight though. He got a lot of help from his defense tonight, with impressive outfield catches by Laynce Nix and Ben Revere, and a double-play executed well by Freddy Galvis, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard. He allowed rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez to drive in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Still, a vast improvement over his first two starts.
- The Phillies offense was just pitiful for most of the night. They were completely baffled by the talents of the rookie Fernandez, and were only able to score their first run of the night in the seventh inning thanks to several errors by the Miami infielders, including a terrible throw into the stands on a potential double-play ball that kept the inning alive and allowed the run score.
- I’ve defended Erik Kratz’s ability to handle the pitching staff, but there’s no defense for his failures at the plate. He’s a walking, breathing double-play. Kratz hit the ball in the seventh inning that should have been a double-play to end the inning, and was very fortunate that the Marlins committed their error.
- The top of the lineup gave the Phillies nothing tonight. Ben Revere, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard went a combined 1-13, with the only hit being a double by Ryan Howard in the eighth inning.
- Rollins had an opportunity to break the game open in the seventh inning. The Phillies had loaded the bases, but Rollins struck out on three pitches.
- Freddy Galvis got the start at third for Michael Young tonight, and went 1-3 with a walk. Galvis also made a couple of nice defensive plays in the field.
- Antonio Bastardo pitched another clean seventh inning, and seems to be settling in the role nicely.
- Mike Adams pitched a scoreless eighth inning. You have to love how fast and efficiently this guy works.
- Phillippe Aumont gave up the winning run in the ninth inning. Aumont started out the inning by walking Placido Polanco, and then Kevin Frandsen botched a play that allowed Miami to put runners at first and third with no outs. Aumont beared down, got a strikeout, and got ahead of Chris Coghlan 0-2, but Chase Utley bobbled a ground ball and couldn’t make a play to cut down the winning run.
Final Thoughts
What a disaster. The Phillies should be kicking themselves for losing this one. These are games that the team is expected to win, and anytime you let a winnable game against a bad team slip away, it’s going to hurt.
Anytime your pitching staff holds an opponent to two runs or less, you should be able to win a ball game. Offensively, the Phils have been exceptionally poor in the last two games. They got away with it on Friday, but tonight they allowed the Marlins to hang around, and any time you let any professional sports team hang around, sooner or later they’re going to bite you.
It’s flat out inexcusable for the Phillies to allow the Marlins to hold them to just one run. In fact, if the Marlins infielders hadn’t been generous enough to make some timely errors, the Phils would have been shutout. Yes, Jose Fernandez pitched exceptionally well, but this lineup is capable of much better efforts than the one they put forth tonight.
With a struggling Roy Halladay on the mound tomorrow and an offense that has managed just four runs in the first two games of the series, the Phillies are in serious danger of losing a series to one of the worst teams in baseball. Losing two of three to this team would be completely unacceptable, Charlie Manuel’s group better be ready to step up on Sunday afternoon.
Tough loss, say what you will about the MArlins anemic,powerless Batting Line-up, they do have some good young Arms on their Staff…
Doc needs to step up and Pitch a strong Game today.. Winning the rubber-match game Today and this Series is important to keep their momentum
Doc answered the call… I know it was just the marlins but you can only play the team that’s on the schedule… It was encouraging to say the least
Can’t say too much; the report pretty much covers it.
Watched the first six innings in the bar, and yeah, Fernandez looked good, but going home I felt confident the Phils would score a few, or the Marlins would f*** it up, as they aren’t very good…But, I get home, do this and that for an hour or so, turn on the radio, and they lost.
Phillies lineup has become a ‘murderers row’ for THEIR OWN pitchers: How many times have we seen Hamels throw a fine game over the past three seasons only to get no support?…Phils hitters still don’t work counts enough for my liking.
It’s still early, but every time Ryan Howard comes up with runners on, I get the sinking feeling in my stomach…Many of you fellows are much better with the stats, but Howard just feels like one of the most ‘un-clutch’ players in baseball; What are his stats over the last three years with runners in scoring position?…Or in key games that mean a momentum shift one way or the other?…I guess there’s no stat for the last one…I just still remember him looking at called third strikes in those series against the Giants and the Cards in the playoffs.
Oh well, still early.
The last three healthy years he has averaged 122 RBI a year… I guess you are saying none of them are clutch?
Oh and to add perspective in the last three years Albert puljols has averaged 105! Fielder has averaged 100,Mark texeria 110….
Could you imagine the number of bridge jumpers if the Anaheim Angels team as currently constructed were a philly team as opposed to Anaheim? The Delaware and schukill would be filled with jumpers….
Anyways bottom line about last night is that chase utley lost us the game period. He made an execusable error and turned a routine double play into a loss. Dudes a jerkoff and that loss is solely on him.
Sure Rollins could’ve got a hit with bags juiced, cole could’ve threw a complete game shutout, Howard could’ve hit a homerun but this is could’ve… Chase should’ve made that play.
Inexcusable above obviously
In positive news for the phillies yesterday. Lefty phenom Adam Morgan pitched 8 strong yesterday, 3 hits, 1 walk, 4 ks. See you soon young man.
Hopefully for Lannan. It’s inevitable, when he starts to get pounded. I have slightly more confidence in KK.
Leave it to the PR, excuse making, pom-pom waving, spin machine, to reprimand someone, for making a critical comment! God forbid, someone doesn’t agree with the Ultimate Superfan, & honestly, factually, criticizes, the perfect, flawless Phils & top MLB GM Booben! PRICELESS! Get a life @$$troll!
From BB reference, it’s factual. Point is if you watched any player/team as much as you watch your home team you would see their warts too. And what excuse are you pointing to negative nitwit? I stated facts I am right
Busting your chops! Wash the sand, out of your lady parts!
DCAR when I was 12 I wanted to take on 60000 at the vet for booing MJS when he popped out with th bases loaded. My dad had to get me out of there! I was calling grown men f.ing assholes “you are uninformed f.ing assholes”(I got whipped when I got home) “you don’t appreciate what he does for us” …