Notes From The Phillies’ 10-5 Loss To Colorado

The Philadelphia Phillies had their two-game winning streak snapped on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Colorado Rockies 10-5. Their record drops to 33-36.

• It was another terrible outing for Jonathan Pettibone, who allowed six runs on seven hits in the first inning alone. Pettibone lasted just three innings, allowing seven runs on 10 hits.
• Pettibone has now given up four runs or more in three of his last four starts, and his ERA has skyrocketed to 4.40.
• Jeremy Horst entered the game first in relief of Pettibone, and was absolutely brutal. Horst destroyed whatever chances the team had of getting back into the game by allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in just one inning. The lefty actually managed to start the inning strong by getting the first two outs, but just couldn’t get out of the inning. He even allowed pitcher Tyler Chatwood to pick up an RBI single with the bases loaded.
• Ben Revere had a nice game at the plate, going 3-5 with an RBI single. Revere has had three or more hits in three of his last four starts. His average is up to .272.
• Michael Young also had a multi-hit game, going 2-5 with an RBI.
• Domonic Brown was quiet once again, going 0-3 with a walk. Brown is now has just two hits in 21 at-bats.
• Ryan Howard went 2-4 with a couple of doubles and an RBI.
• John Mayberry got another start in right field, and hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
• After combining for six RBIs last night, Freddy Galvis and Humberto Quintero came back down to Earth, going a combined 2-7.
• Joe Savery was asked to eat up some innings out of the bullpen today, and he responded with two scoreless frames.
• Justin De Fratus pitched the seventh inning without allowing a run.
• Jake Diekman got through the eighth inning without allowing a run despite giving up two hits.

Final Thoughts

After his last start against Milwaukee, I began to get concerned about Jonathan Pettibone. His performance today didn’t exactly do much to ease those worries.

It’s going to be interesting to see what happens to Pettibone over the next few weeks. The rookie has been struggling lately, and the Phillies have Carlos Zambrano starting in the minor leagues with his eye on a major league position. The team has until July 1st to bring Zambrano to the big leagues, otherwise the veteran can opt out of his deal with the team. If Pettibone can’t straighten himself out over his next couple of starts, I believe there’s a very real possibility that he’ll be sent down in favor of the former Chicago Cub.

Today was a really bad time for Pettibone to have another poor outing. The team’s bullpen had already been heavily taxed after last night’s game where Kyle Kendrick lasted just 4.1 innings, and they really needed Pettibone to come out and give them at least six solid innings.

Another pitcher that is in danger of being sent down is Jeremy Horst. Horst has been largely unreliable all season, and his ERA stands at 6.23 after 28 appearances. He’s had a few bright moments and big outs here and there, but they’ve been too few and too far between. The team is going to have send one of their relievers down by Monday in order to make room on the roster for John Lannan, and Horst seems among the most likely candidates along with fellow young lefties Joe Savery and Jake Diekman. We’ll see what the Phillies decide to do, but I feel like they’ve reached a point where they’ve seen enough of Horst and would rather give Savery or Diekman an opportunity to prove themselves.