"Philly Dose" 5/18 by George Miller
I would like to start off my first article for this website with a brief description of what you will see in this article and articles of mine yet to come. I will be writing a daily entry about Philadelphia sports. I will currently focus on the current action of the Phillies, and the off-season moves of the 76ers and the Eagles. I will begin the articles with the sequence of events that occured, and then a quick analysis of the Phillies.
Today, the Phillies finished off their inter-league series against the Toronto Blue Jays with a 5 hour and 31 minute five to six loss. The game started on schedule at 1:35 after the conclusions of both the Canadian and American national anthems. Kyle Kendrick started for the phillies and shut down the Jays in the top of the first with a 1-2-3 inning. Sean Marcum who has been great for the Blue Jays this season, (coming into the game with a 4-2 record and a 2.22 era) gave up a leadoff single to J-Roll and then smokin' hot Ryan Howard (has now hit safely in 9 out of his last 10 games) knocked a center field homerun to give the Phillies a 2-0 advantage.
And then the rains came...
As the Citizens Bank Park's ground crew moved the tarp onto the infield, the entire frame of the game changed. A two hour rain delay had both of the starting pitchers retired after just one inning of work. As relievers Chad Durbin (Phillies) and Shawn Camp (Blue Jays) took on the role of long relievers, play resumed. It was all pitching until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Phillies threatened Camp with runners on 1st and 2nd when Carlos Ruiz hit the 3rd consecutive opposite field single in the inning. A run scored and aggressive baserunning allowed the runners to move up to 2nd and 3rd. Even though the Phillies were eventually able to load the bases, no more runs would score in that inning.
In the top of the 5th a leadoff single by Rod Barajas, followed by a walk by Chad Durbin brought up Lyle Overbay to pinch-hit for the pitcher. (he stayed in the ballgame because of a double switch) Overbay tied up the game at three a piece with his 2nd four base hit of the season. Phillies pitcher Rudy Seanez came into the game to pitch the 6th. A two rbi double and a rbi single by Shannon Stewart and Rod Barajas would make the game 6-3. Seanez would eventually be charged with the loss.
The Fightin' Phils were threatening again in the bottom of the 6th when NL player of the month Chase Utley knocked in the reigning NL MVP Jimmy Rollins with a double. Thanks to an infield single by Geoff Jenkins the Phillies were threatening with runners at the corners with Pat Burrell at the plate.
And then the rains came...
The second rain delay of the game (37 minutes) diminished what was left of the home team's momentum. After waiting over a half-hour to bat, Burrell was unable to deliver when the Blue Jays brought in their ace Roy Halladay. Halladay delivered in his first relief appearance since 2001.
The Phils had left 8 runners stranded in the last 3 innings, and the game looked like it was going to be a 6-4 loss until the bottom of the 9th where the Phillies had there 3-4-5 hitters against Toronto's lefty closer B.J. Ryan. Down to their final strike, Pat Burrell battled his way into a 3-2 count, and hit a monster shot into the upper deck. Chris Coste came into pinch hit for Geoff Jenkins (Jenkins is not known for his ability to hit off of left-handers), and delivered with a clutch double. So Taguchi came into pinch run and represented the tieing run at 2nd base. Eric Bruntlett came into the game to pinch hit. After hitting two balls down the line, foul, he chased a high fastball on the 8th pitch of the at-bat, and with that the game finally ended.
This was a big game for the Phillies, as with a win they could have capitolized on Florida's loss to have a virtual tie for 1st place in the NL East. (the marlins have played two less games and would therefore be ahead in percentage points) Although Jayson Werth has apparently cooled off since his 8 RBI performance, and Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino were not able to hit, players such as Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste, and Greg Dobbs all proved that they deserve there starting spot.
Charlie Manuel has been periodicly given playing time to a number of players. Three outfielders (Werth, Jenkins, and Victorino) are all competeing for Right Field and Center Field. Greg Dobbs and Pedro Feliz are sharing time at third. Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste are sharing time at the plate. If the regular starters (Howard, Utley, Rollins, and Burrell) can keep up their offensive production for the rest of the season, along with the offense the competition for playing time is generating the Phillies should have one of, if not the best batting club in the National League. The games in Washington should help the team gain some of the momentum it has lost, in the last two games, back, with a sweep, or at least a winning series.
