Phillies Keep Losing, Fall To Pirates Again
By: Mike Reisman
When you think of teams like the Nationals or the Pirates, the first thing that pops into your mind is not usually shut-down pitching accompanied by a line-up good enough to earn a win. Actually, thats almost the exact way most people would describe the Phillies. However, in the past two series, the Phillies have been unable to score against both the Nationals and Pirates, and their pitchers have not been able to hold these teams to only one or two runs. This trend continued tonight, as the revitalized Pirates starter Charlie Morton took on Kyle Kendrick, the temporary fifth starter with Worley in Triple-A and Blanton on the disabled list.
The Phillies scored early on a Ryan Howard fielder's choice giving the Phillies a one run lead. However, the Pirates would erase the lead in their half of the 1st, getting RBIs from Andrew McCutchen and Lyle Overbay to make the score 2-1. The Phillies would tie the game in the 4th, but the Pirates came back then too, making the game 4-2.
The Pirates would add two runs on to their lead, giving them a 6-2 lead in the 9th. The Phillies would attempt a comeback, but would only score one run, leaving the bases loaded, with the game ending 6-3. Kendick would get the loss, and Morton would get the win.
Like many of their recent games, the Phillies were really unable to score tonight, something that started as a bad game and has become a serious problem that has stopped the Phillies from winning. Since coming back, Utley has been especially disappointing, batting just .195, and tonight leaving the bases loaded to end the game. However, Utley isn't the only one as only Dominic Brown and Placido Polanco are batting over .275 for the year. Though the Phillies showed signs of improvement about a week ago, those signs are quickly fading.
Though the Phillies didn't hit well, Charlie Morton must be given some credit, allowing only five hits over seven innings. He struck out five batters and was very effective against the Phillies. Morton is one of the few pitchers with a lower ERA that Roy Halladay, and he is on the fast-track to becoming one of the leagues better pitchers.
Of course, to make all this situation even worse, Jimmy Rollins left the game in the 3rd inning with a right patella contusion after fouling a ball off of his knee in the 1st. There is no further news about his status and whether he will be out because of this injury. This could not come at a worse time, just one day after all of the Phillies regular starters played together for the first time in the regular season.
Tomorrow the Phillies send Doc Halladay to the mound to help the Phillies avoid their first sweep of the year at 1:35.