The Phils allow another game to slip away as they lose late to the Astros, 7-6.

September 17, 2012

The bullpen once again falters as the Phils lose yet another late season game to the Astros, as they lose 7-6.

The Phils took the lead in the first as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Chase Utley hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Jimmy Rollins, who had started the game off with a double, then moved up to third base on Juan Pierre’s sacrifice bunt, 1-3, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead. The Astros took the lead in the third as, with one man on, and with one man out, Scott Moore hits a two-run home run, his eighth home run of the season, knocking in Jimmy Paredes, who had just singled, giving the Astros a 2-1 lead. The Phils tied the game up at two-all in the fifth as, with a man on third, and with two men out, Pierre hits an RBI double, scoring Rollins, who had earlier singled, stole second base, then went to third base on catcher Carlos Corporan’s throwing error. Two batters later, after Chase Utley is intentionally walked, and with still two men out, the Phils would retake the lead, as Ryan Howard hits a two-run double, knocking in both Pierre and Utley, giving the Phils a 4-2 lead, before being thrown out at third base trying to stretch the double into a triple, 7-6-5, for the inning’s final out. The Astros would cut the Phils’ lead down to 4-3 in the sixth as, with two men out, Corporan hits a solo home run, his fourth home run of the season. The Astros would retake the lead in the seventh as, with the bases loaded, via Jose Altuve reaching first base on third baseman Michael Martinez’s throwing error, who then steals second base, a walk to Paredes, and a walk to pinch hitter Brandon Laird, and with one man out, Justin Maxwell hits a two-run bloop double to right, as the ball just dropped in fair, scoring Altuve and Paredes, giving the Astros a 5-4 lead, while sending Laird all the way to third base. The Astros then took a 7-4 lead as Matt Dominguez hits a two-run single, knocking in both Laird and Maxwell. The Phils got two of the runs back in the eighth as, with two men on, and with one man out, Dom Brown hits a two-run double, scoring Carlos Ruiz, who had earlier been hit by a pitch, and then stopped at second base on John Mayberry, Jr.’s single, and Mayberry, who had just singled. That would end up being the final score as Wilton Lopez collected his sixth save of the season as he pitched a scoreless ninth.

Roy Halladay received a no-decision as he pitched six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out seven. Antonio Bastardo collected his twenty-second hold of the season, before taking the lost (2-5, 4.63) as he pitched a third of an inning, giving up two runs, one of which was earned, on a walk, while striking out one. Phillippe Aumont committed his first blown save of the season, as he faced three batters, getting none of them out, as he gave up two runs on two hits and a walk. Justin De Fratus pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up a walk. Jordan Lyles also received a no-decision as he pitched five innings, giving up four runs on five hits and four walks, striking out six. Hector Ambriz pitched an inning, plus a batter, giving up a hit, while striking out two. Wesley Wright (2-2, 3.19) got the win as he pitched an inning, striking out a batter. Xavier Cedeno pitched a third of an inning, striking out the only batter whom he would face. Mickey Storey pitched to three batters, getting none of them out, as he gave up two runs on two hits and a hit batter. Wilton Lopez recorded his sixth save of the year as he pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out a batter.

The Phils had nine hits in the game, with Jimmy Rollins leading the team with three hits, two singles and a double, followed by Michael Martinez (Single, Double) with two hits. Juan Pierre (Double, RBI), Ryan Howard (Double, 2 RBIs), John Mayberry, Jr. (Single) and Dom Brown (Double, 2 RBIs) had the other four Phils’ hits. Chase Utley knocked in the final Phil’s run with a sac fly. The Phils also had five walks, a hit batter (Carlos Ruiz) and a stolen base (Rollins (30)) in the ballgame.

The Phils (73-74, 3rd) will start a three-game series with the Mets (66-80, 4th) starting with a game tonight. The game will be played at Citi Field and is to start at 7:10 pm EST. The Phils will send to the mound Cliff Lee (5-7, 3.36), who is coming off a win against the Marlins on September 12, as he pitched seven innings, giving up an unearned run on four hits and a walk, while striking out six, in the Phils’ 3-1 win. He will be trying to end the Phils’ present losing streak. The Mets will counter with R.A. Dickey (18-5, 2.68), who is coming off a lost against the Nats on September 11, as he went seven innings, giving up three runs on eighth hits and three walks, while striking out two, in the Mets’ 5-3 lost. He will be going for win no. 19. The Phils will be trying to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win tonight.

Written by mlblogsphilliesredpinstripes Posted in Dailies Tagged with Antonio Bastardo, Astros, Bases Loaded, Blown Save, Brandon Laird, Carlos Corporan, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley, Citi Field, Cliff Lee, Domonic Brown, Doubles, ERA, Errors, Hector Ambriz, Hit Batter, Holds, Home Run, Intentional Walk, Jimmy Paredes, Jimmy Rollins, John Mayberry Jr., Jordan Lyles, Jose Altuve, Juan Pierre, Justin De Fratus, Justin Maxwell, Lost, Marlins, Matt Dominguez, Mets, Michael Martinez, Mickey Storey, Nationals, No-Decisions, Phillies, Phillippe Aumont, Pinch Hit Walk, Pinch Hitter, R.A. Dickey, RBIs, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard, Sacrifice Bunt, Sacrifice Fly, Scott Moore, Series Lost, Singles, Stolen Bases, Strikeouts, Thrown Out at Third Base, Walks, Wesley Wright, Wilton Lopez, Win-Loss Record (2012), Xavier Cedeno