Sleeper Hold: Nationals 4, Phillies 1

by dajafi on Apr 29, 2009 10:30 PM EDT

The thing about crazy comebacks is that you can’t come to expect them. Through their first 19 games of the 2009 season, the Phillies rallied for nine victories—all but two of their total—including a few that had to be seen to be believed.

So when the team fell behind the visiting Nationals 3-1 in the sixth inning of tonight’s game, confidence was understandably high: the Nats had squandered bigger leads in Monday’s 13-11 Phils win, and starting pitcher (and Phillies-hater) Scott Olsen had entered the game with a 7.29 ERA. But after allowing a first-inning home run to Shane Victorino, Olsen held the Phils off the board into the sixth inning. Even more implausibly, the burned-over Washington bullpen backed him up with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, quashing potential rallies in the sixth and eighth innings.

Brett Myers fell to 1-2 despite his third straight quality start. But it wouldn’t be quite correct to call him a hard-luck loser tonight: Myers issued three walks in the third inning, including one to Olsen and another to Ryan Zimmerman with the bases loaded. Then in the sixth, already down 2-1 with a man in scoring position and the pitcher due to hit next, Myers let Anderson Hernandez beat him with a hit up the middle that plated the third Nationals run. A career .238 hitter, Hernandez was Washington’s star tonight with three hits, including two doubles.

Their five-game win streak over, the Phils now have an off-day before their first meeting with the rival Mets in a three-game set that starts Friday.

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Bullpen

Only 30 more games until Romero returns and Traschner departs.

by Old Grandad on Apr 29, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

I'm counting down too, but...

tonight Taschner contributed two decent innings. A one-two-three 7th and a decent 8th. Yeah, he gave up a run, yeah he generally sucks, but tonight wasn’t that bad. Myers mistakes were more painful and the lineup just couldn’t hit off Olsen.

by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 29, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Myers mistakes may have been more ‘painful’ but in a day when the offense only scores one run I find them less relevant since the offense was so anemic – they weren’t really going to win the game anyway

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Apr 30, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I agree. But his mistakes weren’t hanging one to Dunn, or missing to Dukes. He walked Olsen and let the 8 hitter burn him. Those are what was painful. But you’re right – 1 run will never win you a game, unless you’re playing the Pirates.

by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 30, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, Olsen’s a good pitcher, sometimes you just get beaten fair and square. Five out of six is pretty good.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Apr 30, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Except that last night would have gotten them to 500 at home
losing record at home really sucks

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Apr 30, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Do the Pirates need a left-handed reliever? I’d like Jaramillo back.

by phatj on Apr 30, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

On the bright side...

No homers surrendered by Myers.

Other than the third (double by Hernandez and run walked in), I thought Myers looked good. The runs in the sixth came off singles by Dukes and Hernandez that were really weakly hit.

I’m taking it as a sign of good things. Brett’s best is yet to come.

by Larry Skywalker on Apr 30, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions