JrBB Phillies

     Pretty good bats, pretty good pitching, excellent base running and errors characterized the Phillies night at Fleet Park.  Yankees scored 3 in the first, which the Phillies answered in kind in the home half.  DP by Luke and Zack got Sam out of a jam in the top half.  Jordan singled, stole 2nd & 3rd and scored on PB.  Sam walked, stole 2nd, advanced and scored on Orion's single to left.  Stranded Dan and Dirk, who both singled.
     Phillies faced 5 batters in the 2nd, but did not allow a run.  Zack lined to left to lead-off the 2nd.  He scored when Marcus ROE.  Jordan hit his second of 3 singles of the night.  He and Marcus advanced to scoring position.  Sam grounded out to first, but "Wheels" and "Smarty Jones" both scored.  Phillies were up 6-3 after 2 innings.
     Yankees scored 4 runs in the 3rd, 2 earned.  A couple of 2-out, defensive errors and 2 walks to batters 8 & 9 chased Sam off the mound.  Zack allowed 1 hit before striking out #2 batter to close the top half.  Phillies went down in order in the 3rd, but the Yankees had the lead, 7-6.
   An error at 1st allowed the lead-off Yankee to reach safely.  Two outs of #4 & 5 batter should have retired the side, but. . ..  3 runs scored before the Phillies could right the ship. Phillies got 2 runs back in their half of the 4th.  Zack led-off with his second single.  Marucs reached on a FC.  Jordan hit his 3rd signle of the night--both scored on Sam's ground out.  {Isn't speed a beautiful thing?!}
     Neither team scored in the 5th.  Both scored one run in the 6th.  Dan, who relieved Zack in the 5th, struck out 2 and Luke blocked a runner trying to score.  Marcus singled and scored on Stratton's ground-out.  Score after 6--Yankees 11, Phillies 9.
     A couple of well hit balls, a walk, and an error allowed the Yankees to plate 3 runs in the top of the 7th.  Phillies couldn't answer, as they went in order in the bottom half.
     Again, the Phillies sent fewer batters to the plate than their opponent.  Our 9 hits were all singles, although several were well hit balls, and the Yankees played very well defensively.
     Next games is Saturday, against the Pirates, before we again face the Royals on Monday.
    

         What an interesting, even exciting game to watch, I assume; to play in, I’m certain.  From a manager’s perspective—“VERY INTERESTING” in the words of some old detective.  Last game 13 runs, 13 hits, 13 errors—WIN.  This game 9 runs, 9 hits, 2 errors—LOSS.  Last game 11 balls hit to infielders (less the pitcher)—this game ZERO!  (2 errors were on the pitchers’ throws to 1^st base.)

            More interesting, 9 of 10 Phillies batters reached base safely.  6 of 10 scored.  7 of 10 wee involved in a put-out.  WE cut down runs on throws from catcher to first and catcher to third.  We got one batter in a well executed run-down between 3^rd and home.  AND Luke Mahoney, swinging a -5 bat, hit an error-free, inside-the-park home run! 

            The home-team Phillies started Dan on the mound.  Between a lead-off walk, an error and several PB, the Yankees scored 4 runs on 2 hits.  The Phillies, on 2 walks and an error answered with 3 of their own.  Marcus walked and Jordan ROE, recording an RBI.  Barrett scored on a PB.  Sam walked and scored on Stratton’s FC.

            In the 2^nd, a lead-off triple and 2 singles scored 2 Yankee runs.  In the bottom half, Dirk hit a 1-out single, but the side retired on Marcus’ fly-out to second resulting in a DP.

            Yankees got their lead-off batter aboard again to start the 3^rd, but Marcus & Sam combined for an out at 1^st.  Dan struck out the next 2 batters for his 5^th/6^th K.  In the 3^rd, the Phillies stranded Dan after a 1-out single, and the scored remained 6-3 Yankees.

            “Smarty Jones” Barrett relieved Dan on the mound in the 4^th.  After a lead-off walk, an error and a sequence of WP/PB platted 3 runs, Jordan retired the 8^th batter on a strikeout.  Phillies answered with 2 in the bottom half.  Orion singled and took 2^nd on a PB, scored on Luke’s home run.  Luke was pickin’ ‘em up and puttin’ ‘em down.  Only was I could have stopped him at 3^rd was a cross body.  Marcus was HBP and after stealing 2^nd and 3^rd, was left stranded on a fly-out to the pitcher.

            Sam came on in relief in the 5^th.  He struck out batter #9, and Luke caught a towering fly from the Yankees lead-off batter for the second out.  After 2 walks and a couple of steals/PB, Dan (catching in relief of Marcus) and Sam combined for a WP/PB put-out at home.  Phillies closed within 2 in their half of the 5^th.  Dan singled to left-center and stole his way to 3^rd.  Sam hit sharply to right to score Dan.  Zack reached on FC.  Orion and Luke walked, but the Phillies retired with bases loaded.  Yankees 9; Phillies 7.

            With 2 minutes before the 2:15 game time limitation, the Yankees lead off in the middle of their order.  A lead-off double, followed by a single and a walk platted 3 runs.  Phillies came up with their lead-off batter.  Marcus drew a walk.  Jordan singled, scoring Marcus.  Dan singled and Jordan scored on a PB.  Sam singled, scoring Dan.  Another single by Stratton and a FC by Zack couldn’t score the 3 runs the Phillies needed to tie the game.

            For the 2^nd time in 8 games, the Phillies sent fewer batters to the plate than their opponent, 35-38.  We walked fewer times than the Yankees, 11-6.  We out hit the Yankees, 9-8.  But, a couple of key errors and the inability to hit with runners in scoring position was the difference.

            The 4-4 Phillies are a fun team to watch, manage.  Guess who we play on Friday—our 4 time to see the Royals.

            This is a short summary, ‘cause the numbers are too scary and unlucky to study!  13 runs.  13 hits.  13 errors.  We faced a good pitcher for 5+ innings, until we finally knocked him off the mound with 5 singles in the top of the 6^th.  Thanks to our bats we scored enough runs to give us a cushion going into the bottom of the 7^th to hold on to get back above .500.  Offensively Marcus and Jordan went 3-5.  Zack and Orion both hit doubles.  7 players recorded at least 1 RBI in the 7 innings.  Offensively, we are still sharp, batting the order +2 in the 6^th inning and sending at least 40 batters to the plate for the third time this season.  Our stolen bases numbers are down, as we have gotten a bit less aggressive on the base paths.

            Defensively, we are a different team.  There are at LEAST 9 players who have had All-Star experience-somewhere around 23 years combined 9-10, 11, and 11-12 teams.  We need to continue work on our defensive mechanics.  Our baseball savvy is fine—we know what to do with the ball on each play, we’re just not getting it done. 

            Orion started out pitching well enough, but instead of being out of the inning after 5 batters and 1 run, he faced the whole line-up and errors allowed 4 runs to score.  Dan pitched 5 excellent innings, allowing only 2 hits, walking only 4, striking out 7—zero earned runs.  Errors allowed the Royals to score 3 runs over that stretch.  Sam and Marcus didn’t look particulary sharp in the 7^th, but kept the bases pretty well juiced to make it exciting to watch (I guess!).  Defensively we didn’t make an error in the 7^th, but kept our Phillies steak alive by hitting batters!  We got the same player as the first and last out of the inning, once at home and once at first.

            We get to see the Royals for the 4^th time on Friday night, stay ed turned.  We’re going to be a different team next time.

    

Phillies vs Pirates, 29  April

 

            If you haven’t been reached base on being hit by the pitcher, then you haven’t faced Phillies pitchers!  On this night 3 of 4 HBP batters scored, AND the Phillies don’t discriminate. We’ll hit the lead-off batter, the clean-up, or the 9^th batter in the line-up.

            Errors continued to plague the Phillies—7 of ‘em.  For the first time, the oppent had more at-bats than the Phillies, 36-33.

            The visiting Pirates scored in the 1^st when lead-off was HBP on the first pitch of the game.  In the Phillies half, Marcus hit a shot to left for a stand-up double to lead-off.  Jordan walked and stole second.  With 2 outs, Sam singled to right, scoring both “wheels” and “Smarty Jones.”  Sam was out at second on a very close call.

            Instead of 3-up, 3-down, the error monster showed up in the top of the 2^nd.  Ground-out, error, K, error, BB and a double scored the 2 batters that ROE.  Another double scored 2 more and the Pirates led 5-2.  Phillies went in order in their half.

            In the 3^rd, a lead-off walk and an error plated the Pirates sixth run.  The Phillies answered with their sixth consecutive game where at least 9 batters went to the plate in a single inning.  Matt hit a sharp shot, but grounded out to lead-off.  Marcus and Jordan both singled.  Stratton walked to lad the bases with 2 outs. Sam doubled to center, scoring Marcus and Jordan.  Zack singled, scoring Stratton and Sam.  Dirk singled and Ross walked to load the bases.  Cameron singled, scoring Zack and Dirk. At the end of three:  Phillies 8, Pirates, 6.

            Pirates took the lead again in the 4^th.  Jordan relieved Marcus on the mound, and continued the Pirates tradition of hitting batters.  On 2 walk, 2 HBP, an error and a single, the Pirates scored 5 runs.  Jordan recorded 2 put-outs and an assist, defensively.  Phillies went down in order in the bottom half.

            In the 5^th, Zack replaced Jordan pitching.  The Pirates scored another run on a 2-out error, followed by a triple by Garrett.  Phillies failed to score, stranding a runner at 3^rd.

            Despite another error, the Phillies held the Pirates scoreless in the 6^th.  Down by 4 runs, the Phillies’ rally came up 2 short.  With 2 outs, Jordan singled to right, Josh reached on an error and Stratton walk to load the bases.  Sam (4 for 4) singled scoring Jordan and Josh.  But that was all the rally could produce, as the Phillies dropped their 3^rd in a row after winning 3 straight.

            The .500 Phillies meet the Royals twice next week, a week shortened by the challenger Tournament weekend.

            Phillies (3-2) met the Royals (3-2) for a re-match on Wednesday.  Scored 8 runs on 8 hits, left 10 LOB, and too many Phillies errors resulted in a 12-8 lost to the Royals.  Triplett allowed a lead-off hit to start the game, but retired the side stranding that runner at 2^nd.  The home team Phillies sent 11 batters to the plate to start their offense-Royals issued 4 consecutive walks to M. Hall, Barrett, Triplett and Aguirre.  Georges’ single to right-center score Jordan.  O. Hall’s single scored Triplett and Aguirre and moved Georges to 3^rd.  Chapman walked and M. Hall ROE to load the bases with 2 outs.  Phillies scored 5. 

Royals answered with two of their own in the second, but the Phillies got those back in the bottom half.  Triplett ROE and Aguirre singled to right.  Triplett scored on Georges’ ground out to short.  With 2 outs, Aguirre scored on Wilkins’ single up the middle.  After Ford singled and Chapman walked, the bases were loaded and were left loaded when the side retired.  Phillies 7-Royals 2.

Royals scored three in the 3^rd on two singles and two walks.  Aguirre relieved Triplett and retired the last batter of the inning.  Phillies got only one back in the 3^rd, starting with a lead-off single by Barrett.  Triplett grounded out and Barrett scored on Aguirre’s single.  Georges got his second hit of the night, but the Phillies stranded yet another.  Phillies 8-Royals 5.

Fourth proved disasterous for the Phillies.  O. Hall took the mound and uncharacteristically struggled with his pitches, issuing 3 walks and hitting a batter.  Defensive errors and a PB allowed 3 runs.  Aguirre relieved on the mound and retired the 2 batters he faced.  Phillies did not score in the inning, although 5 batters went to the plate.  With 2 outs, Chapman was HBP and M. Hall ROE.  Phillies stranded two more runners.  Game tied at 8.

Aguirre allowed 1 single and struck out the side in the fifth.  He got the only hit in the bottom of the 5^th and was again left stranded.  Still tied at 8.

Royals scored 4 runs in the top of the sixth on 2 hits, 2 walks, 3 errors.  The Phillies couldn’t answer the bell in their half, going in order on 10 pitches.

            Some real positives in this game, however, as O. Hall, Wilkins and Ford all recorded their first base hits.  Triplett pitched well and Aguirre dominated the mound in relief.  Mechanic errors afforded the Royals too many extra chances for the Phillies to overcome.  We play the Royals 3 more times, so we will tighten our cleats and work to sweep the rest of the series.