Phils Lose In Pittsburgh Again

Maybe I'm bad luck or maybe the Phillies are just taking an offensive vacation. Either way I'm 0-2 this weekend at PNC Park and I'm beginning to get frustrated with this inconsistent Phillies offense. Usually I'm pretty even keeled and try to keep a good perspective when the Phils struggle at the plate. But after tonight's disappointing performance in which the Phils managed just 3 runs, I've had just about enough of this non-existent offense.

The Phils lost tonight by a final of 6-3 mainly because they failed to hit with runners in scoring position. How many times did Ryan Howard roll over a weak ground ball with runners on? How many times did Chase Utley lift a weak fly ball to left when all we needed was a sharply hit grounder? The Phils got base runners but simply failed to come through with runners on. Even in the top of the first when the Phils scored they still should have done more damage. Rollins toughed out a hot lead off double down the line. Placido Polanco then hit a single up the middle to put runners on the corners with no outs. But Utley proceeded to strike out, and Howard hit into what would have been an inning ending double play had it not been for a tremendous take out slide from Placido Polanco. The Phils barely squeaked out a run in the first and should have scored at least 3 to start out the game.

The Bucs then responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 2-1 lead. The Phils knotted things at 2 in the 4th when Domonic Brown grounded out to score Shane Victorino. In the bottom of the inning Lyle Overbay worked a leadoff triple. Raul Ibanez should have held Overbay to a single but he instead attempted a diving catch and the ball scooted past him enabling Overbay to practically walk to third. Chris Snyder grounded out to score Overbay and Brandon Wood followed with a solo homerun to give the Bucs a 4-2 lead. The Pirates added a run in the 7th and another in the 8th to give them a comfortable 6-2 lead going into the top of the 9th.

Ibanez led off 9th with a double, Ruiz walked and Wilson Valdez singled to load the bases. With 2 outs Placido Polanco singled and the Phils made it a 6-3 game. Utley came to the plate as the go-ahead run but he lofted a gentle fly ball to left to end the game in a 6-3 Phillies defeat.

Basically the game was a bunch of dumb Phillies defensive mistakes that led to some runs that shouldn't have been allowed. With Kendrick pitching the Phillies should have tightened up on defense and done a better job of making plays behind him. Kendrick has been known to have some nights where he simply implodes but don't be fooled by tonight's boxscore. Although Kendrick gave up 4 runs the defense behind him was non existent and there were some runs that weren't entirely his fault.

Offensively the Phils will come out of this slump as they always do. But for now it's extremely frustrating to watch this team at the plate. Tomorrow Halladay will attempt to stop the bleeding and end this 4 game skid. And hopefully the Phils offense will make an appearance and finally score more than 3 runs. As I conclude my rant I will leave you with this bit of good news; I will not be attending tomorrow's series finale at PNC Park. Hopefully that will help the Phils in their attempt to climb out of this recent skid.