The story of Game 2 was stranded runners. The Phillies got away with it last night with Hamels dominating, but not tonight. This was a very winnable game as Myers did not pitch badly (three earned runs over seven innings should have been enough to win the game), but the offense was woeful with runners in scoring position. Of course it didn't help that the home plate umpire was atrocious—he cost the Phils a run in the second inning with that non-strikeout call and he cost them an out in the 9th with that horrible missed call on Rollins. But the bottom line is that the Phillies should never have put themselves in the position of needing good calls by umpires. Championship teams take care of business regardless of any calls they may or may not get. If the Phils want to stay in this series, the offense better find a way to start knocking in runs. Twenty-two stranded runners in two games is a disgrace.
At least in the 9th inning the Phillies put a little scare into those obnoxious Tampa fans who started singing "na na hey hey goodbye" in the 8th inning. Apparently they forgot that their team blew a 7-run lead late in a game last series, and they obviously are too ignorant to realize that you don't sing that song unless your opponent is about to get eliminated, not when you're down 1-0 in the series. Great sports fans down there in Tampa.
Anyway, we get the next three in Philly. A home sweep is probably too much to ask, but we should at least take two of three and head back to Tampa with a 3-2 lead. We really need the Moyer who pitched so well in the regular season to show up on Saturday . . . and the offense better wake up.
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2 comments:
I was absolutely appalled with the Phillies last night. From top to bottom of that lineup...so many wasted chances. Watch out, Tampa - you're living on borrowed time. If you are planning on allowing a team to be in a position to be 1-28 with runners in scoring position...you're eventually going to get burned.
I've seen nothing from Tampa pitching that the Phils haven't seen before.
Nice to see Howard finally hitting the ball. This is a trend that should continue in Philly. After all...he has to have something positive to say at arbitration, right? :-)
It was an atrocious performance. How many times in that game would even a simple fly ball have brought a run home from third? Every important one-out at-bat resulted in a strikeout or a pop-up.
The feast or famine offense is overdue for one of its patented single-inning explosions. Let's hope it's soon.
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