What happened?
The Phillies rallied late, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead as their lost their first game in Atlanta since 2007.
Who did what?
Joe Blanton gave up three runs in five innings in the no-decision. He allowed eight hits, three walks (two intentional) and struck out three.
Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.
Shane Victorino went 1 for 5 with a run.
Chase Utley went 2 for 5 with a homer (17) and an RBI.
Ryan Howard went 2 for 5 with a double (19) and an RBI.
Pedro Feliz went 3 for 3 with a homer (5) and an RBI.
John Mayberry Jr went 1 for 1 with a homer (4) and an RBI.
Ryan Madson blew his fourth save of the season, giving up an unearned run in the eighth.
Chan Ho Park (3-2) took the loss, allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning.
Derek Lowe gave up two runs in six innings on seven hits, three walks (one intentional) while striking out four.
Gregor Blanco went 3 for 5 with a triple (1) and two runs.
Martin Prado went 4 for 5 with a double (12) and four RBIs.
Jeff Francoeur went 2 for 5 with a double (9) and an RBI.
Peter Moylan (2-2) took the win. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and didn’t give up a run.
What does this mean?
In their first game against the National League since taking two of three from the Mets, the Phillies find themselves on the losing side of a 10-inning game in Atlanta, where they were undefeated in 2008.
Early on, things looked good for The Fightins. They took an early lead on Howard’s two-out double, and again on Utley’s solo shot. But the Braves came back to tie it both times, while taking a lead after the latter. Back-to-back homers from John Mayberry and Pedro Feliz in the top of the 8th gave the Phillies the lead for the third time of the night.
However, a throwing error in the bottom of the frame set up an unfortunate series of events, allowing the Braves to tie the game. With two outs and a runner on first, Ryan Madson’s errant pickoff throw to first allowed the runner to move to second. This caused Ryan Howard to play off the line, which put him just out of reach of Martin Prado’s triple down the line. If Howard keeps the ball in front of him, or if Madson’s throw was on line, or if there wasn’t even a pickoff throw, then Howard is in position to make the grab and end the inning.
That is just pointless conjecture, as the Braves would go on to win it in 10 after the Phillies failed to get a runner past first base after the back-to-backs in the 8th, sending the Phils to their seventh loss in their last 10 games.
Although Blanton wasn’t as sharp as he has been, and although the offense probably should have put up a few more runs, and although the bullpen needs to (and will be) better, the biggest concern has to be Jimmy Rollins’ oh-fer on the night. He didn’t get a hit in five at-bats, while striking out twice. He is now 0 for his last 24, with just one run in that stretch.
The Phillies have a great opportunity to take a commanding lead of the National League east in the coming month, but Jimmy Rollins has to be better if they want to do that. They’ve gotten by with mediocre pitching and a streaky offense, but that isn’t going to last all season. As Jimmy goes, so doth the Phils.
And it’s about time he starts going.
What’s next for our heroes?
In game two of the series, Cole Hamels ( 4-4, 4.44) takes on Jair Jurrjens (5-6, 2.93)
43 Comments on “June 30 Game Recap: Braves 5, Phillies 4”
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General
June 30th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Sigh.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Well, at least the mets still suck.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I hope 4 is Hamels lucky number
June 30th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
you cant blow 3 leads in one game. i wish i could just smack ‘em
phillycubano, didnt cole have 4 wins last year in the postseason?
June 30th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
why is it that madsen can get to 2 outs, but cant clsoe the deal?
and why is chan ho park still in our bullpen?
June 30th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Time for Madson to go on the DL.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
If there’s a bright spot from this game, it’s that Durbin threw 2 scoreless and looked pretty good doing it, plus that ball Mayberry crushed was a breaking ball so maybe he’s starting to see those pitches a little better.
But I still don’t know why Madson isn’t throwing his change-up when he’s ahead in the count. I don’t think he even threw it once tonight. I’d love to know how many hits he’s given up/leads he’s blown this season on 2-strike fastballs.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
At least Lowe got nailed in the gooch by a line drive?
July 1st, 2009 at 12:51 am
Another pitiful performance by J-Roll. 0-5, 2Ks, and not one decent swing in the entire game. Pathetic.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:02 am
I’m starting to see a pattern when Madson has trouble, I think everytime he’s given up a run, or hits it’s been due to not throwing his Chanegup on a two strike count, and the pattern being the catcher for him at the time has been Coste, or Bako. When Chooch is behind the plate, I think he throws that Changeup as an out pitch. I need to check this out, and see if it holds up.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:14 am
@OtherJim: I did some research about Madson giving up leads.
games: 39 (including tonight)
blew it while we had the lead: 3
blew it while it was a tie game: 4
So, that’s 7 games he has blew it. Not good.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:50 am
@Gonzo
Out of those 7 he’s blown, I’d love to know what the count was and what pitch he threw on the game-tying or game-winning hits. Maybe it’s just me, but the number of change-ups he’s been throwing lately (especially in a 2 strike count) seems way low… which is ridiculous because it was the most swung-at-and-missed pitch in all of MLB last year.
Maybe I’ll do a little highlight video research if I have an hour or so to kill tomorrow.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:01 am
Thinking of all J-May’s homeruns, they all seemed to be off a curveball, or at least the last 2. Fastballs outside are destroying him.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:22 am
i just went to wawa for my usual oven-roasted turkey and provolone shorti, and i purchased Remembering Harry Kalas for $10. i’m fuckin stoked.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:41 am
@ Gab: Let me know how it is. The Wawa near my house seems to be sold out.
@Other Jim: Baseball Reference doesn’t have the types of pitches thrown. Does anyone know a website that has that info? I have plenty of time to research that kinda stuff. And I am very curious, since you brought it up. in the game against the Orioles where he gave up 2 homers in the 9th, the counts were 2-2 and 1-2.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:29 am
Fuck Jimmy Rollins!
July 1st, 2009 at 8:50 am
Hey Guys,
Huge fan here. Is anyone else sick and fucking tired of T-Mac & Wheels? How about a “Fuck The Announcers” segment? All T-Mac ever does is praise the other teams players like he has a sick mancrush – its obvious that he is not a Phillies Fan (he workded for the mets prior to philly and is believed to be a mets fan). And when they play the lowly mets, Wheels, in an attempt to kiss T-Mac’s fat ass, always comments to the greatness of the mets players, most noteably the dickhead shortstop. Just watch & listen to this weekend’s games. Harry & Whitey would never behave in such an uncool, unPhilly way! Philly fans need to send a strong message to noose these two worthless assholes. How do we accomplish this. I am ready to keep my volume down for the entire game. Sarge is the only decent guy on tv – LA should join him.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Gonzo. The HK book is well worth it. Great insight and stories, although some I have heard before. Nice pics too.
@CA Mill. Agree 100% about TMac, he is a douche. But I like Wheels. I think Scott and LA should call the games on tv.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:09 am
Yeah T-MAC and Wheelers are AWFUL. Especailly T-Mac, he thinks he’s funny but he is just extremely annoying. Go to the gym and work on getting rid of those disgusting man boobs. And Wheels – stop referring to every play in the league as “that guy.” Scott is really good and I can really see Phillies fans falling in love with him like they did to Harry.
Tough loss last night, I don’t blame it on Madson. Just sort of is what it is.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:14 am
Let me edit my last point. Obviously Madson allowed the Braves to tie the game. But, looked at how the Braves did it. Bad pick-off throw to first allowing the runner getting to 2nd base with 2 outs. Then, with two strikes, the Braves hitter sticks his bat out and pokes it down the line. Unlucky stuff such as this has been happening to Madson as of late. He is still throwing strikes, not allowing extra base hits, but has just been unlucky.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:22 am
I can’t take this anymore. We should be like 10 games up on the Mets right now. Seriously, wtf is going on with Jimmy? How many oh-fer nights is he going to have? At least his D is still nice or there would be absolutely no reason to have him in the game. I give him 1 more week then its Stairs at SS. I heard he played short in Little League.
As for the announcers, there’s nothing wrong that a little extra Sarge couldn’t cure. That guy is the tits!
July 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am
@Gonzo – Fangraphs may have something, I’m not sure though without checking.
Also, JRoll is working his way up to #1 on at least one list this year:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-ten-worst-leadoff-hitters-since-1957/
July 1st, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Harry
Franzke is fucking great. Him and LA are sooooo much better than TMac/Wheels. I was driving home from work last night when Mayberry and Feliz went back to back and his call(s) were fantastic.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:30 am
Do I have to be special to get an avatar?
Did anybody see Ryan Bruan’s (sort of) in the park grand slam against the Triple-A Mets last night?
July 1st, 2009 at 9:46 am
I’m in a glass case of emotion with this team.
Congrats to Dash on makin the header.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:58 am
@Jdashdog Just create a wordpress acount and go to your profile then edit “gravatar”
Also I can’t believe all this hatred I’m reading towards Wheels. Tisk tisk people.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:02 am
@dashdog..i did catch the braun inside the park grandslam because directv refuses to give me phillies games. funniest thing i saw all night especially because the announcers were blowing santana all night long and were pretty much guaranteeing that the mets would score at least 6 runs. it’s also really funny how they can’t wait got reyes to come back to add another slacker to the roster.
you know what else really grinds my gears? how the sny commercial claims the mets announcers are the “industry standard”.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:16 am
As long as the Mets lost, it’s all good.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:21 am
@Chris, thanks. I’m just learning how to use the internets
July 1st, 2009 at 10:49 am
t-mac and wheels were unbearable last night. did anyone else see when chipper jones fouled a ball into the stands over the thirdbase dugout and fell over in pain and wheels said that he fouled the ball off his foot???? the ball never even came close to the ground. i cant listen to these two debate if a 92 MPH fastball was a curveball or a slider anymore. they both need to leave and go rock around the cock with each other
July 1st, 2009 at 10:59 am
UGH. There is not much more to say.
And YES, Here Come Da Judge, I was seriously annoyed with TMac & Wheels for most of the game. I think I let out a record STFU’s last night. I’m just waiting for Sarge to go postal on TMac one of these days.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:46 am
Jimmy Rollins, you’re fucking out.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:57 am
dear ryan madson:
enough of that fucking cutter. ive seen you get burned by this pitch more than ever recently. bastard
July 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I love how when Wheeler/T-Mac were interviewing Milt Thompson last night Milt mentioned what Rollins did during the time off and how it will hopefully help him. So it was only natural for Rollins to come up, swing at the first pitch and ground out.
Wheels and T-MAC are truly god awful. It’s at the point where the only satification I receive from listening to them is picking at everything they say and making fun of it. Wheelers “that guy” and his unbearable cackle that his his attempt at a laugh is enough to drive anyone crazy. The sad part is the Phillies will never get rid of him. Hes been here for what, 35 years now? It’s funny how people still dislike him despite him being here for that long.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Both Madson and Rollins (before the hitting streak) are playing like it’s 2006 all over again.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Oh, ….and Harry, Milt is a company line towing buffoon.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
@ bigmyc – obviously
status update: eric bruntlett, paul bako, and jack “of no trades” trachner are still on the team
July 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I agree that Wheels and Mac were unbearable last night. They make it seem we are playing the ‘27 Yankees every night.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
From the Zo Zone (what a dumb name…)
The Phillies have decided who will start Friday night against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park.
It’s not Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Carpenter or Kyle Kendrick.
It’s Rodrigo Lopez.
Lopez is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 13 starts this season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is 65-65 with a 4.80 ERA in his seven-year Major League career. He last pitched for the Rockies in 2007.
Lopez signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies at the end of Spring Training after they watched him pitch in the World Baseball Classic. He had Tommy John surgery in Aug. 2007, and spent most of 2008 recovering. The Braves signed him to a minor-league deal toward the end of last season, but the Braves did not exercise the option they had on him.
Why can’t Pat Gillick come back?
July 1st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
is that the same Lopez who we tried to get for Pat Burrell a few years back?
July 1st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
@Gonzo:
Yes, the very same Lopez that had a bunch of people were flipping out when Burrell nixed the trade. The same Lopez who had Tommy John surgery in 2007, signed with the Braves in 2008, and was released by them last November.
Man, I wish Burrell would have been okay with playing in Baltimore. That Lopez sure could have helped us out.
And to echo everyone else’s sentiments, I too think Wheels and T-Bag suck.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I hate Wheels and T-Bag. They are a bunch of GOOCHES! i mute the tv and listen to music. F-them gooches.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Now, I know I’m probably in the minority, but I’m a fan of Scott Rolen (bash me all you want, but if you want to discuss his treatment by the fans and media, I’ll talk with ya). But, be that as it may, I’m not nearly as big a fan as Chris Wheeler. My dad, who probably shares the some independently cultivated opinion about Scottie that everyone else in the area seems to share, came to realize that the reason he doesn’t like Wheels is the fact that Wheels thinks that everything that Scottie does is amazing. That throw that was “So athletic” by Scottie on Sunday was a bad play. I’m a fan of the guy, and I can’t think of any other way in saying that it was a stupid play by him. Even I knew he should have run to third, then threw to first. He has the arm to get the catcher out there, easily.
By the way, isn’t it a little ironic that Scottie might end his career on turf?