JrBB Phillies

The win streak met the losing streak, and the losing streak won!  Visiting Phillies played the winless Royals on Friday, 22 Apr.  Despite out-hitting the royals, 10-5, they turned an 8-3 lead into a 11-10 loss.

            M. Hall started the game with a lead-off single.  He scored on Triplett’s RBI single.  Mahoney lined to the pitcher and the Royals turned a double play to end the fist half.  In the bottom half, the royals drew two two-out walks and scored two runs on an RBI single and PB.

            In the second, Georges singled, but two K’s and a fielder’s choice made quick work of the Phillies. M. Hall had two unassisted put-outs and combined with Triplett on a DP to shut down the Royals in the second.

            Phillies set 13 batters to the plate in the third, scoring 7 runs, before chasing the Royal’s starting pitcher.  Coplon drew a lead-off walk and scored on Barrett’s RBI single.  M. Hall singled to left, stole second, and scored on Mahoney’s RBI single.  Georges singled, scoring Barrett. Aguirre singled in Mahoney and Georges. O.Hall walked and scored.  M. Hall reached on 2-out error, scoring Aguirre.  Phillies left 3 men on.  Royals got one back in the bottom half on a walk and RBI single.

            Phillies stranded two more on a lead-off single by Mayfield and another walk by O. Hall.  Royals scored four on four walks and four errors.  Aguirre relieved M.Hall on the mound and retired the two batters he faced.  At the end of 4:   Phillies 8, royals 7.

            In the fifth, the Phillies added one run when Barrett hit a two-out single to right, stole second and advanced/scored on errors. Mayfield came on to pitch in the fifth, faced four batters, allowed one single and struck out three.

            In the sixth, the Phillies added another run to take a 3-run lead into the bottom half.  Mayfield walked and stole second, advanced to third on Georges ground out to second.  Mayfield scored, but the Phillies stranded runners at second and third with only one out.  Phillies defensive errors and a seep shot to right allowed the Royals to regain the lead 11-10 in the sixth.

            Phillies sent the  top of the order to the plate in the top of the seventh and produced one walk (Barrett) ad three strikeouts.  Royals win 11-10.

Phillies vs Pirates, Monday, April 18^th

“The Tale of Two, or Three, or Four Baseball Games.”

            I sometimes decompress after a game and let a day go by before writing the summary.  Can’t with this one.  A special “thanx” to Julie and Mary Ellen for keeping a book that reads like a Vin Scully play-by-play.

            Game 1:  On Monday the Phillies welcomed the Pirates in to the 2005 season.  As visitors, we got on the board with only 1 run because of an aggressive coaching error at third.  M. Hall led off with a 300’ triple to dead center.  Pirates’ O’Donnell picked him off when he was coached into a too-big lead.  Aguirre his sharply to shallow left and stole 2^nd.  He scored on Triplett’s double to center.  After stealing 3^rd, he was out trying to go home on PB.  Pirates sent 6 batters to the plate without scoring in the bottom half.

            In the second, Phillies loaded the bases on walks by Wilkins, Chapman and Ford.  Mayfield’s FC forced Wilkins at home.  Chapman scored on M.Hall’s sacrifice (SAC).  Barrett’s single to center scored Ford.  Klein made a good 5-3 to rob Aguirre of a base hit.  Aguirre struck out the first two Pirates I the bottom of the second, and Chapman-O.Hall set them down in order.  Phillies sent 7 batter to the plate in the second.  At the end of Game 1:  Phillies up 3-0.

            Game 2:  Phillies sent 8 batters up in the third.  Triplett & O.Hall walked to lead-off.  They stole 2^nd & 3^rd while Wilkins was at bat.  A dropped strike three scored Triplett and put Wilkins on.  Mahoney singled in O.Hall.  Georges got the first of his three singles, but the Phillies left the bases juiced.

            Coming on in relief, O.Hall struggled after a truly quality outing on “deep freeze” Saturday.  He faced nine batters and allowed 3 runs.  A dropped ball and “throw it around” allowed the Pirates to get on the board.  At the end of Game 2:  Phillies 5-3.

            Game 3:  Phillies got one back in the fourth when Aguirre walked, took 2^nd on PB, stole 3^rd and home.  Triplett relieved O.Hall and retired the side in order on a routine Wilkins-Hall 6-3, and fly outs to Wilkins and Georges.

            In the fifth, trying to close the door, the Phillies scored four runs while sending nine batters up.  Georges singled, Mayfield walked, and M.Hall singled to load the bases.  Barrett hit a 2-run single.  With M.Hall and Barrett in scoring position, Aguirre walked to again load ‘em up.  Triplett’s FC scored M. Hall, stranding two.  Phillies got 5 hits in fifth inning.  Phillies allowed a lead-off walk to score in the fifth, before a strike out and double play retired the Pirates.  At the end of Game 3:  Phillies up 10-4.

            Game 4:  Phillies added two more runs in the sixth, on another 5-hit effort.  Georges (3-3) led off with a single.  M.Hall’s double scored Georges.  Pirate errors allowed Hall to score before singles by Barrett, Aguirre and Triplett left the bases loaded again.  In their half of the sixth, the Pirates scored four runs on one hit, two walks and more defensive errors tan even Vin Scully could record!  An in-field fly, a strike-out and a batting out-of-order ruling ended the game at 2 hr/ 45 minutes.  At the end of Game 4:  Phillies win 12-8.

            Phillies set 41 batters to the plate; Pirates 26.  Phillies pitchers combined for 5 Ks, 12 BB, 4 hits, and 5 earned runs.  Take away the 3^rd and 6^th innings, this was a good ball game.

Saturday, April 16^th, vs Chesapeake Little League

Phillies played their first interleague game against Chesapeak LL on Saturday, April 16^th.  On a cold and windy morning, the Phillies looked warm enough on offense and defense.  Phillies retired CLL in order in the first.  Coplon’s pirouette on a hard grounder to 2^nd for a 4-3 out drew praise even from home plate umpire.  In the Phillies half, M. Hall, Triplett & O. Hall all singled.  M. Hall and Triplett scored before the Phillies retired having sent 8 batters to the plate.  (Georges, Mayfield, Coplon walked.)  Stranded 3 runners.

            In the second, CLL got a lead-off single who was cut down on a catcher-pitcher (2-3) pick-off.  O.Hall got his first 2 Ks.  Phillies extended their lead to 6-0, sending 10 batters up in the bottom of the second.  Mullen drew a lead-off walk, was replaced on 1^st by Coplon who scored.  M. Hall got second single in scoring Coplon. After O.Hall walked, Barrett’s single brought in M. Hall.

            O.Hall gave up back-to-back walks with 2 outs in the third.  Lead runner scored on a pick-off attempt at third.  Phillies couldn’t answer that run, as the 1-2-3 batters went in order.

            CLL got another run I the fourth off a lead-off single.  Phillies led 7-1 after four when Barrett reached on a dropped third strike, stole 2^nd and scored on two PB.

            Triplett came on in relief in the fifth.  He struck out the leadoff batter.  After CLL’s Booth reached on catcher interference, Triplett, O.Hall and M. Hall turned a 1-3-2 double play to close out CLL.  In their half of the fifth, the Phillies scored 5 runs to end the game 12-2.  Wilkins was hit-by-pitcher (HBP).  Mullen reached on error by third base.  M. Hall hit sharply to shallow left to score Wilkins.  Triplett, out 1-3, scored Mullen from 3^rd.  O.Hall & Barrett both walked and both scored on fielder’s choice by Georges and a couple of throwing errors by CLL.

Speed is a great thing in baseball and racehorses! Smarty Jones was born & bred 40 miles from the MLB Philadelphia Phillies. Smarty Jones can only wish he was as fast as the JrBB Phillies!!

After a very abbreviated pre-season, the Phillies opened the regular season against the Yankees, who had beaten the Royals 15-1 a day prior. The teams ‘christened’ the newly re-worked Field #1 with Fleet Park’s version of "Sand Lot."

The visiting Phillies took the field facing Hatcher who would go 5 innings, 129 pitches, and they went in order in the top of the 1^st. Two singles, 3 walks and a couple of balks plated 3 runs for the Yanks in their half of the inning. A textbook 2-5 (Mahoney-Georges) was key play to stem the tide.

In the 2^nd, Mahoney walked, was advanced to 2^nd on the walk to Georges, and stole 3^rd. He scored to put the Phillies on the board. Before Hatcher recorded his 3^rd K of the inning Chapman walked, stranding runner in scoring position. In their half of the 2^nd, the Yanks plated 2 more runs. Aguirre relieved M. Hall and struck out the 2 batters he faced.

Phillies started their come back in the top of the 3^rd. With 2 outs, Aguirre singled, Mahoney walked, and Georges singled in 2 runs on a hard hit to the right side. After retiring the Yanks in order, the 3^rd ended 5-3.

Barrett drew a 1-out walk in the 4^th and would score after stealing 2^nd and advancing to 3^rd & home on passed balls (PB). Although Hatcher recorded his 6, 7, & 8^th strikeouts, the Phillies closed the gap to 5-4. Aguirre had his fourth K in the bottom half. Key defensive play followed the strikeout. Georges bellied a bad hop on a laser by Hatcher, holding him to a single. A heads-up play by Mahoney caught Hatcher advancing to second on a force play. A routine 1-3 (pitcher to 1^st) retired the side.

M. Hall drew a lead-off walk in the 5^th, stole 2^nd & 3^rd and went home on another PB. The Phillies stranded Mahoney who beat out a dropped  3^rd strike. O. Hall drew a 2-out walk. Yanks went in order again in the 5^th on 2 Ks and a 6-3 (SS to 1^st). Score Yankees 5; Phillies 5.

Phillies made it very interesting in the top of the 6^th, as the time limit (2.5 hours) neared. Triplett worked a full count into a 2-out walk issued by Brogan, the new Yankees pitcher. An error on a pickoff attempt advanced Triplett to 2^nd, who went to 3^rd on a wild pitch (WP). M. Hall and Aguirre walked to load the bases. Before Mahoney grounded out to short, (but after he tomahawked a chin-high fast ball!!), Triplett scored the go-ahead run on anther PB. After five and a half, Phillies 6, Yankees 5.

The Yanks led off the bottom of the 6^th, down 1, with the 8^th batter, and racing the clock like the NCAA. New Yankees pitcher lined to second for the first out. Aguirre issued his only walk in 14 batters. Reinerth replaced Leiderberg on first and advanced to 3^rd as the Phillies focused on getting outs. Barrett covered 30 yards to catch a towering fly for the second out, holding Reinerth at 3^rd. M. Hall covered an equal distance into shallow right to close the deal. Phillies 6—Yanks 5.

Phillies sent 13 batters to the plate; Yanks sent 12.

Phillies vs Royals, yet again, May 13^th

            The visiting Phillies struck quickly with a lead-off double and triple by Jordan and Sam.  Dan’s ground out to short scored Sam.  Orion singled to left, but was caught stealing when Coach Triplett tested the Yankees pick-off skill to 3^rd.  IN the bottom half, the Yankees responded, in kind.  A lead-off walk scored when the second batter ROE.  He scored on another defensive error, but the Phillies turned a DP when Stratton caught a fly to 3^rd and relayed to Josh for the other half.

            The Phillies regained the lead, when Stratton drew a lead-off walk, stole 2^nd and advanced to 3^rd on a balk.  With 2 outs, Dirk ROE and scored Stratton.  4 consecutive walks, a defensive error and a hit batter lead to 4 Yankee runs.  Marcus relieved Orion on the mound in the 2^nd.

            The Phillies went in order in the 3^rd and 4^th.    They held the Yankees scoreless in the 3rd, but allowed 3 runs in the 4^th, off 2 consecutive singles and a walk, before Marcus struck out the side.  At the end of 4:  Yankees 9; Phillies 3.

            Stranding 2 runners, the Phillies again failed to score in the 5^th.  Yankees banked another run in their half, eventually scoring the lead-off batter who ROE.  With 2 outs, and the bases loaded, Zack relieved Marcus on the mound and dealt up a 4-3 ground-out.

            In the 6^th, Luke doubled with 1 out, and advanced to 3^rd.  After Stratton walked, putting batters at the corners, Josh grounded out, scoring Luke.  In their half of the 6^th, the Yankees went in order.  Zack got his 3^rd K, on the lead-off batter.  Sam took a high-light spot from Josh in snatching a testy blooper to the right side.  He recorded the 3^rd out of the inning, unassisted.

            In their last-chance inning, the Phillies would score 3 runs.  Jordan worked his at-bat for a 1-out walk.  Sam singled to right, scoring Jordan and advanced to 3^rd on the next 2 pitches.  San walked, and advanced to 2^nd.  Orion hit his 2^nd single of the game, scoring Sam and Dan.  Running in lace of Orion, Marcus was caught stealing 3^rd, and the Phillies couldn’t mount a 2-out rally.  Game ends Yankees 10; Phillies 7.

            Overall a pretty good game.  5 defensive errors are still too many.  The Yankees batters #6-9 accounted for 5 of their 10 runs.  They reached base on 5 walks, a single and a defensive error.  Can’t let the little end of the order be that effective.

            Next game is Wednesday against the Yankees, with whom we have split our first 2 meetings.  No more Friday night games for the rest of the regular season.  We play the Pirates, Saturday morning, with whom we split our first 2 meetings.