I began writing this piece in the 8th inning of today's latest punch to the gut. That sentence was going to read - but for the second time this season the Phillies followed getting swept with a sweep of their own. But that was not to be on (what once was) this beautiful Mother's Day Sunday afternoon. I shut my laptop and didn't finish that sentence for fear of jinxing the win. So much for that thanks to Antonio Bastardo.
Cole Hamels fought tooth and nail through a career high 133 pitches in seven stressful innings. He left after striking out 10 with a 3-1 lead in line for his first win of the season and 100th of his career. Mario Hollands got through the 8th and Chase Utley pulverized a triple to right center scoring Jimmy Rollins to get the Phils a nice insurance run in the 9th.
Some how. Some way. Jonathan Papelbon was not available to pitch the 9th inning to attempt to nail down his 12th consecutive save. It would have been Papelbon's third appearance in as many days, but he'd thrown a mere 21 pitches split between 7 Friday night and 14 Saturday night. Ryne Sandberg will have to answer as to why Papelbon was unavailable to pitch. Papelbon has been borderline lights out for over a month and was sorely needed in today's ball game. To make it even more of a head-scratcher, the Phillies have tomorrow off and 3 of the next 8 days. Somethin's missin' alright.
So Sandy called on the lefty, the vile thing, Antonio Bastardo to get 3 outs before he gave up 3 runs in the 9th inning. It has been mentioned prior that Bastardo has an issue with allowing the leadoff man get on, especially via the free pass. When he went 0-2 on Eric Young Jr to start the inning it was a welcome sight, but then he made a mistake that Phillies pitchers have done more than fathomably possible. He threw a pitch in the strike zone on that 0-2 count and Young slammed it down the line for a double (David Wright had two hits Saturday night on 0-2 pitches including a two run home run in the first inning). Does Bastardo not understand situational baseball? Does he lack control that bad? Is it just nerves pitching in the 9th inn- scratch that he'd do the same thing in the 8th. Whatever it is, it doesn't stop and Antonio Bastardo is killing the Phillies right now. You absolutely and unequivocally cannot throw a pitch in the strike zone with an 0-2 count in that situation, but Bastardo did.
The rest is history.
He fell behind lefty Daniel Murphy and grooved a 3-1 fastball right down the middle. Murphy paused and stared holding the follow through of his home run swing like he was Tiger Woods sticking a nine iron with the tournament on the line. I can't even bring myself to give you the rest of the details as the Phils still clung to a 4-3 lead with nobody on and 1 out in the 9th. Bastardo just wasn't any good and neither was Roberto Hernandez who Sandberg called upon to relieve Bastardo. Hernadez threw 99 pitches Friday night and was available to officially get the blown save today. Does it make sense that he could pitch when Papelbon couldn't? The answer to that question is no.
Cut to Cole Hamels losing it somewhere in Queens.
The fact that the Phillies won the series by taking 2 of 3 from the punchless Mets is for naught with what has to stand as the worst loss of the season. The three game set was basically two bad to mediocre ball clubs looking completely inept whenever there was an opportunity to get a big hit.* The Phillies went 8-31 with runners in scoring position in the series and left 36 men on base over the course of three games. The Mets left 37 on base and were 7-37 which included several late in the ball game today.
If this series was a boxing match, it would have been the ugliest boxing match you've ever seen. It would have been a couple of flyweights leaving themselves wide open to haymakers because they just swung and missed so bad on the previous haymaker. And that cycle repeated itself for three days.
This one hurts more than most hurt. The Phils will take on Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and the Anaheim Angels at home starting Tuesday.
*Marlon Byrd and Ryan Howard both got late game-winning hits Friday and Saturday night or we're still talking about how wretched the Phillies are.
NL East standings after 6 weeks:
Atlanta Braves.................... 21-15 -
Miami Marlins..................... 20-17 1.5 GB
Washington Nationals........... 19-17 2 GB
New York Mets................... 17-19 4 GB
Philadelphia Phillies............ 17-19 4 GB
Werth the Watch:
Jayson Werth
Avg: 307 OB: 395 Slg: 445 HR: 4 RBI: 17 R: 19
Shane Victorino
Avg: 273 OB: 323 Slg: 364 HR: 0 RBI: 8 R: 5
Hunter Pence
Avg: 253 OB: 337 Slg: 377 HR: 2 RBI: 10 R: 26
Raul Ibanez - no longer playing every day
Avg: 140 OB: 250 Slg: 270 HR: 3 RBI: 18 R: 9
Trout struck out four times Sunday.
ReplyDeleteHe won't strike out 4 times in this series.
DeleteRaul is still in the lineup. Raul and Trout are both next to Albert in lineup. Check the box.
ReplyDeleteApparently Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable due to general neck soreness. This was his decision not Sandberg's. It smells like garbage to me. He will be ready to pitch Tuesday he says, gee thanks Jon.
ReplyDelete