JrBB Phillies

Back to Dahlia once again for another match against the Cubs, who 10-runned us on the opening day of the season. We played a good game of baseball on this last Saturday in April! We sent 32 batters to the plate, Green Run sent up 28, recorded 6 hits, allowed 4; committed only 2 errors, and had more than a handful of key plays & highlights. Jacob, uncharacteristically went 0-4 at the plate, but pitched a superb game—9 Ks, 3 runs on 4 hits, with only 2 walks. In the first, Sam hit a 1-out single, his first of 3, and scored on a PB. Orion singled, but was left stranded at 3rd. In the bottom half, Josh covered a lot of ground to catch the lead-off shot to center. The second GR batter doubled to right center and scored on the only run we gave up on a PB. Jacob retired the side on 2 Ks. After 1: Green Run 1; Phillies 1. In the 2nd the Phillies and GR went in order. Jacob efficiently struck out the side on 13 pitches. The 3rd looked much the same, as both sides went in order, Jacob getting his 6th and 7th K, Dirk covering a lot of ground to catch his first of two fly balls to left. After 3: Green Run 1; Phillies 1. In the 4th, Orion was, but was out 6-4 on a FC by Peyton, who advanced to 3rd on GR passed balls. Peyton scored on another PB, to give the Phillies the lead. George reached after being hit by the pitcher, and was stranded at 3rd. The lead didn’t last as the home team lead off with back-to-back doubles, both scoring before the side retired on GO to Orion and Josh and Jacob’s 8th K. After 4: Green Run 3; Phillies 2. In the 5th, Jacob drew a 2-out walk and Sam singled to left. Both were left stranded in scoring position. The 5th inning was a key defense set for the Phillies. Jacob struck out the first batter and then walked hitters number 8 and 9—a Phillies tradition!! Dirk caught a deep fly to left, and the runners were left at 2nd and 3rd. The #2 batter for Green Run hit a pop-up foul down the 1st base side which Sam caught, diving in front of the home team dug out to retire the side with 2 runners on. (Jacob gave up his Coach Hall-candy bar for the save!) After 5: Green Run 3; Phillies 2. In the top of the 6th, “Wheels” Vaughan drew a lead off walk. He flat stole 2nd and 3rd. Although going on the pitch, Peyton scored on a PB, to tie the score. Dirk singled with 2 outs, but was left stranded on base. In the bottom on the 6th, Orion snagged a bullet line-drive at short off the first batter. The second batter singled nad advanced to 2nd on PB. GO to Jacob and George retired Green Run with the score still tied at 3. In our half of the 7th, we started batting with the 9th position. Chris and ajcob both struck out. Sam singled and Orion followed with another single. Both runner advanced so that Peyton came up with runners at 2nd and 3rd. A towering shot to left was pushed NEARLY foul, before dropping for a 2-run double. Josh’s shot to SS could have been caught only by a top-notch player, but the Phillies retired with a 2-run lead. Sam relieved Jacob on the mound. Jacob had thrown 87 pitches in a solid outing, and could have finished the game, except the for the pitch count. In keeping with the Phillies tradition, Sam walked the #7 batter, thaen struck out #8. The lead off walk had advanced to 3rd before Sam walked the #9 batter! Green Runs lead off hitter lined a shot to Orion at SS, who relayed to Jacob playing 1st for the game ending/saving double play. After 7 innings, and 1 hour 45 minutes: Green Run 3; Phillies 5. A lot of good things and trends were seen in this game. Probably most obvious was another Phillies double play—we’ve had at least 1 in 6 of our 7 games. Jacob pitched a superb game; Joseph caught another superb game. The bottom of our batting order put the ball in play better than in any of our previous games. The catches by Josh and Dirk in the outfield were key—Josh’s catch of the GR game lead-ff sent a message. Dirk’s catch to end the 3rd stranded runners at 2nd & 3rd. Sam’s catch of the foul ball in the 5th also ended an inning with runners at 2nd and 3rd. The team’s 2-out rally in the 7th was undoubtedly the most significant. Singles by Sam & Orion followed by Peyton’s 2-run double were the difference on the scoreboard. The double play to end the game kept it that way!

Game 5  Green Run Nationals  Apr 22^nd

 

            The Phillies traveled, once again, to Green Run on Saturday to play the GR Nationals.  We finally played Phillies-baseball against our cross-town rivals and won 12-5 behind another solid outing by Jacob & Sam.  They combined for 4 hits, 2 ER, 5 Ks, 6 BB.  We sent 32 batters to the plate, GR sent 28.  Most significant stat is that we committed only 1 error, which did not result in a run.  11 of 13 players reached bse,; 9 of them scored.

            Our 1^st at-bat was ominous—2 GO to 1^st, a single by Jacob to center was left on base with clean-up struck out.  IN turn, we allowed 2 runs to score off 2 singles.  After 1:  GR 2; Phillies 0.

            We got on the board in the 2^nd when we sent 10 batter up and scored 4 runs.  Josh led off with a 7 pitch walk.  After Dirk lined out to 2^nd on a self-defense shot, Justin & Kyle walked.  Josh scored on George’s sacrifice to center.  Sam walked to lad the bases again and a balk scored Justin.  Marcus, running for Kyle, scored on a PB.  Sam scored on Orion’s 2-out single, before Jacob ROE and Peyton was HBP to re-load the bases.  Tenth batter of the K’d but 4 runs scored.  IN the bottom of the 2^nd, a lead-off walk resulted in a run on a PB, as the next 3 batter went down in order.  After 2:  GR 3; Phillies 4.

            In the top of the 3^rd, the Phillies scored 4 more on a lead-off single by Dirk.  With 2 outs, George singled to left, scoring Dirk.  Sam and Orion walked to load the bases and Jacob cleared them with a deep shot before trying to claw his way from 2^nd to 3^rd being tagged out in the process!  We held GR scoreless in their half of the third when Joe & Jacob combined for a 2-1 PO on a runner attempting to score on a PB.  After a GO to SS and single to center, Jacob recorded his 3^rd K to retire the side.  After 3:  GR 3; Phillies 8.

            Phillies added 2 in the 4^th on a lead-off, Peyton walk, followed by Marcus’ HR to the softball field in right-center.  The bottom half of the order went quietly after that—3 Ks, & a walk.  Sam relieved Jacob on the mound in the 4^th.  He struck out the first 2 batters on 7 pitches.  Then, keeping with the tradition of Philly-ball, walked the #8 & #9 batter before hitting the lead-off to load the bases!  A single to left scored 2 runs.  Not wanting to make the littlest GR player feel left out, Sam hit him to re-load the bases, before getting their clean-up hitter to GO to the mound.  After 4:  GR 5; Phillies 10.

            Phillies added an additional 2 runs in the 5^th on a lead-off walk (Sam’s 3^rd of the game), and RBI single by Orion and a FC by Jacob.  Orion was CS on Jacob’s hit, and Marcus doubled with 2 outs, scoring Jacob.  He was CS to retire the Phillies in the 5^th.  Time expired on the game in the bottom of the 5^th, and GR retired with the bases loaded.  Phillies very nearly completed a rare 3-6-4 double play when Orion threw to Marcus to force the runner at 2^nd.  Marcus then relayed to Justin, covering 1^st.  After 5 complete and time limit reached:  GR 5; Phillies 12.

            Defensive highlight was the near 3-6-4 DP.  However, the 5 GR hits to the outfield were ALL kept to singles—huge!!  Milner again kept nearly everything in front of him behind the plate, keeping runners from freely advancing.  Sam tagged the batter when the throw from SS pulled him off 1^st—a rally-breaker in the 1^st that also stranded a runner at 3^rd.

            Two games—One defensive error—big league, leads-up baseball that is made possible by hard work at practice and self-confidence in each other’s ability.  Our next game is our first against the Fleet Park Pirates, Wednesday, April 26^th.  Saturday’s game is on the road, again versus Green Run Cubs, to whom we lost the season opener.

Game 4 Royals 10 Apr

A Classic

     Where do you start to describe what was a classical, well-played baseball game at Fleet Park, Harbor Park or Veterans Field?  Jacob’s 5 inning, 2 hit, 11 K, 2 walks would be a start.  Joseph’s unbelievable work behind the plate would be a start.  10 of 11 batters putting the ball in play would be a start.  SMART, HEADS-UP DEFENSE would be a start.  But—let’s start with error-free defense, 7 innings of error-free defense, greatly aided by incredible, early-season pitching and superb work behind the plate.  Again, no extra bases on outfield hits due to excellent outfield work of Justin, Kyle, Chris and Austin (Jacob & Orion played outfield but the intimidated all the batters!).

     Jacob started well, getting a lead-off, full-count strikeout.  After a walk, single, hit batter, the Royals scored on one of the very few PB.  Jacob closed the first with 2 more Ks.  In our half of the 1^st, Jacob hit a 1-out single to right and stole 2^nd/3^rd.  Orion drew his first of four walks, stealing 2^nd.  Joseph drew a 2-out walk t load the bases before Justin flied out to short center.  After 1:  Royals 1; Phillies 0.

     In the 2^nd & 3^rd, Jacob retired 6 straight, on 5 consecutive Ks and a fly-out to Sam.  Austin ROE to lead-off the 2^nd on a sharply hit ball to 2^nd.  Marcus replaced Austin on the bases, stole 2^nd & 3^rd and scored on a PB.  Chris walked and advanced to 3^rd before a coaching error got him CS at home.  George and Sam struck out to retire the Phillies. After 2:  scored tied at 1.

     The Phillies took the lead in the 3^rd, starting with Orion’s second walk. A 1-out bunt by Joseph advanced Orion and Joseph ROE.  Marcus singled to center, scoring Orion from 2^nd.  Joseph was called out on a questionable call at the plate (clearly safe from a Phillies point of view).  Marcus stole his was to 3^rd and scored on a PB to Austin.  After 3:  Phillies 3; Royals 1.

     Wyatt Brown led-off with a double to left, quickly relayed by Kyle to George to Jacob, who tagged out Wyatt caught between 2^nd & 3^rd—key momentum breaker.  After a fly-out to short and Jacob’s 9^th K, the Royals were retired.  IN the bottom of the 4^th, Kyle & George both GO on sharp hits to 3rd and 2^nd.  Sam drew a 2-out walk, but was stranded at 2^nd on Jacob’s GO.  After 4:  Phillies 3; Royals 1.

     Jacob continued his dominant pitching in the 5^th recording Ks on their 7^th and 8^th batters.  Their 9th batter walked, but was caught napping at 1^st.  Phillies added 2 insurance runs in their half, starting with Orion’s 3^rd walk f the evening. He advanced to 2^nd, stole 3^rd.  With 1 out, Joseph reached on a dropped 3^rd strike.  Marcus singled again, scoring Orion and advancing Joseph to 3^rd.  Austin reached on a FC where Joseph was caught in no-man’s land on a good defensive play by the royals.  After Chris drew his second walk of the game, Marcus scored on a PB before Austin was out on a FC by George.  After 5:  Phillies 5; Royals 1.

     Sam relieved Jacob on the mound, who threw 83 pitches.  Royals got 3 singles to lead-off.  Outfield hits to Chris (left) and Austin (right) were kept to singles—huge!!—even though the lead-off single eventually scored.  After a fly-out to Marcus (SS) on the foul-line behind 3^rd and another single to load the bases, Sam struck out 2 batters to retire the Royals with bases juiced.  In out half of the 6^th, Sam drew a lead-off walk, advanced to 2^nd on an errant pick-off and stole 3^rd.  Jacob hit a towering shot to center for the first out.  Orion drew his 4^th was of the night and advanced to 2^nd before the Phillies retired on 2 Ks.  After 6:  Phillies 5; Royals 2.

     Phillies defense & pitching held in the 7^th.  Sam & Orion combined for a 1-3 PO of the led-off batter.  Sam struck out the 2^nd batter and walked the 3^rd, the Royals’ lead-off hitter.  A ground ball right to 2^nd base was fielded by Josh who got the force out unassisted to secure the win.  Phillies win a superb game 5-2.

     Our 4^th game was without defensive error!  Outfield played very well, keeping his to singles and hitting the cut-off just like we practice.  Defense talked their way through 7 innings.  Key defensive plays by Marcus, Josh, Kyle-George-Jacob were momentum crushers.  Outstanding pitching by Jacob set the tempo of the game for 5 innings.  Strong closing pitching by Sam kept runner from reaching for free.  The hallmark of this game was the excellent work behind the plate by Joseph.

Believe it or not--there were some good things about this game.  If you can think of any, email me and I will included them!!  We sent 35 batters to the plate, Greeen Run sent 47.  Over 4 Phillies pitchers, we walked or HBP 17 of them, throwing 165 pitches, enough for 2 standard games.
     We did keep our double play streak alive, Josh (pitcher) throwing to Orion (SS) on to Sam (1B) in the 5th inning.  Outfielders (Josh, Justin, Kyle & Chris, played well, keeping all but 1 hit to the outfield to a single.  George worked hard, behind the plate, but too many passed balls added to the Phillies woes.  Joseph demonstrated he can lay-out at 3rd.  Sam went 3-3 at the plate.  Austin rrecorded 2 RBIs, on his ROE at bat. 
     Uncanny parrellel--Justin and Joseph both went down swinging on 2-2 counts their first at-bat.  Both walked and scored their next time up.  Both were hit by first pitch the last time up.  Joseph got an RBI on his HBP, since the bases were loaded.
     Next game--Monday, Apr 10th, Fleet Park vs Royals.

HBP-Hit by Pitch;  DP-Double Play; K-Strike out; BB-Base on Balls; PO-Put Out; GO- Ground Out;
ROE-Reached on Error (got on base due to defensive error.  Does not count as a hit.);  WP-Wild Pitch (bad pitch by pitcher); PB-Passed Ball (pitch not caught by catcher);
U-Unassisted(the defensive player puts a runner out without throwing the ball.)
CS-Caught Stealing (a good idea gone bad!  Usually the base coaches fault.)

Defensive positions in baseball are numbered: 1-pitcher, 2-catcher, 3-1st base, 4-2nd base; 5-3rd base, 6-short stop, 7-left field, 8 center field, 9-right field.  An out described as 6-4-3 means that the short stop threw to 2nd baseman, who threw to 1st baseman.