MVN - Most Valuable Network

Running Cold: Phils Muster 1 Run, Lose To ‘Stros

Jimmy Rollins stepped in to the batter’s box, fouled off two pitches, looked at a ball, and then stroked a single. Things had been going atrociously all night for the Phils, but at about this time you had to figure a repeat of Tuesday night was coming. Then Greg Dobbs stepped up to the plate and did what most of the lineup was doing all night, he struck out quickly and that was it.

Contrary to last night, there was no magical comeback, there was no South Philadelphia celebration, as the Sixers fell down in Charlotte. Instead there was an agitated murmur spreading through the CBP crowd. We all know how this team starts the season, and actually we should be welcoming a .500 April, but it just doesn’t seem right after August/September of last season.

Maybe it was Roy Oswalt and not the Phillies lineup, maybe Oswalt truly is back to his 2001-2007 self after an early season funk. Oswalt did throw an absolute gem. His fastball was sharp, and seemed to overpower much of the Phillies lineup, while his off-speed pitches were just filthy. In fact, the only extra base hit all night, for the Phils, was Chase Utley’s double in the third. Jayson Werth, meanwhile, was the only Phillies runner to even reach third base, and the only to cross home plate.

All in all, the Phillies fell to a Houston Astros team that they have no business losing to, not even to Oswalt. The month of April, so far, is looking very reminiscent of the stretches last year where the Phillies simply couldn’t score. Granted, last year those stretches came with the abscenses of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley or Shane Victorino. This year they come with virtually the full line-up, in tact and healthy. Now it’s most likely just an early season slump, for the entire lineup, but it is slightly unnerving seeing this team put up a total of 2 runs, barring Tuesday’s 9th Inning, in the last two games.

Once again, the Phillies starting pitching did it’s job. Kyle Kendrick seemed to snap out of his April funk and pitches very well. Kendrick went 7 innings, giving up just 2 runs and striking out 5 in the process. Overall it was actually more than we expected from Kendrick coming in to the season, and hopefully he can keep it up. The Phillies bullpen even did their job, holding the Astros hitless in the final two frames. Yet, as I said, the Phillies lineup simply could do nothing at all.

In true ex-Philadelphia athlete fashion, Michael Bourn came back to bite the Phillies right in the backside. Bourn accounted for both of the ‘Stros runs on the night, hitting a solo homer in the fifth and using his speed in the first to manufacture Houston’s runs. Now, I didn’t like the Bourn trade when it happened, as I feel Bourn is a better player than Victorino, but it is yet to be seen who gets the better end of the deal. Right now though, the edge can go the Astros with the win Wednesday.

Thursday is a Citizens Bank Business Persons Special, and so far this season they are 3-4 in day games. Hopefully they can even up their Day and Overall records in one shot with the “Ace” Brett Myers on the mound against Houston’s Brandon Backe. The biggest hope for tomorrow is that, after seeing him Pinch Hit tonight, Jimmy Rollins is ready to start.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 11:59 pm and is filed under Phillies GameDay, Ryan Howard, General, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.