Doubled, Over: Cubs 10, Phillies 5

by dajafi on Jul 22, 2009 5:05 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

Carlos Zambrano didn't do much at the plate against the Phillies Wednesday, but his 6 2/3 innings on the mound earned him the win in Chicago's 10-5 victory. (AP Photo/H. Rumph, Jr.)

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After ten straight wins in every flavor from easy blowout to stunning comeback to extra-inning thriller, the Phillies' streak came to an end Wednesday afternoon with a 10-5 loss to the Cubs. Jamie Moyer took the loss, struggling through five innings in which he allowed eight hits and five runs, but the Phils' bullpen--untouchable in six innings the night before--kept short-circuiting potential comebacks. After the Phils had pulled to within 5-3, Chad Durbin came in for the seventh inning and allowed three runs, on two hits and three walks, without recording an out. Brad Lidge came in for the ninth inning with the team down 8-5, and surrendered two more runs on two hits and two walks. Ryan Theriot had three hits and three stolen bases for the Cubs, and Aramis Ramirez and Jeff Baker each had two-run doubles.

The Phils' offense did a respectable job against Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, who allowed five runs (four earned) on ten hits and three walks in his 6 2/3 innings of work. But all ten hits were singles, and the team left 11 men on base for the day. The Phils' last best chance came in the eighth, when a Ramirez error and two walks loaded the bases for Ryan Howard. Facing Chicago closer Kevin Gregg, off whom he's never had a hit, Howard grounded out softly to first, ending the threat.

The Phils' homestand resumes Thursday night when Cole Hamels pitches in a makeup game against his hometown San Diego Padres. Given the ten innings of bullpen work in a stretch of about eighteen hours, here's hoping he can go deep into the evening.

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Bleah. Well, let’s start a new streak tomorrow.

by taco pal on Jul 22, 2009 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Do ya'll think we desperately need reliever help more than Haliday?

I was at the game today. Jamie was not good but Durbin and Lidge outright stunk. Don’t have the time to look it up, but I think our bull pen is costing us more games than the starters.

by DeanH on Jul 22, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

… and I wasn’t even there.

Lidge has been up-and-down this year but I’m guessing he’s our guy for the foreseeable future. Hopefully Charlie sticks with him and he recovers like J-Roll did.

Durbin is another kettle of fish. He was brilliant for us until August last year, when he started to wear down because we overused him. But he hasn’t really recovered since then, has he?

Forget Roy Halladay. The Phillies need another 6th-7th inning reliever and a right-handed bat off the bench. Durbin + Bruntlett = No Thank You.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Jul 22, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

With Halladay, we don’t need the bullpen as much, which means that the weaker links like Durbin don’t get exposed as much. Not that I’d be opposed to trading for bullpen help or (even better) a right-handed bench bat, but I think Halladay would be a more useful addition overall.

Don’t forget that the weaker relievers hardly ever appear in the playoffs, where it appears the Phils are headed (today’s loss notwithstanding).

by phatj on Jul 22, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i’m with you. jamie will be lucky if he can get through 6 innings anymore. if hamels, happ, and blanton can average 7 innings, we could keep the bullpen well rested and ready to go. an addition like halladay would give us another reason to not use out bullpen as much.

by awd777 on Jul 22, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, did you watch the last week worth of games? Ok, I am sure you watched, but did you pay any attention?

They allowed 4 runs in the previous 20 innings before today. Look at last night’s 13 inning game. Jeez people can be fickle.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Jul 22, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The bullpen was bad today in large part because they were rode hard and put away wet last night. Park wasn’t available after pitching three innings less than a day before. Lidge… well, Lidge didn’t work that much last night. He’s just a mess right now. But even Durbin, whom I can’t stand, probably was at less than full strength after going three innings on Monday night.

If Myers comes back or Escalona steps up, there’s your bullpen help. And personally I wouldn’t be averse to seeing Drabek called up for long relief if he’s still a Phillie in ten days’ time. They’ll need to limit his innings anyway pretty soon. (He had another 8 tonight in a strong start for Reading.)

by dajafi on Jul 22, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not really a valid excuse, but I never like seeing a closer used in a non save situation like today. Never seems to work out.

by FredEx on Jul 22, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Surely that is more anecdotal than anything.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Jul 23, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean a “closer” can succeed when it’s not a “save situation?”. Surely you jest good man!

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Jul 23, 2009 9:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs