What happened?
The Phillies failed to reduce their magic number as the Astros tagged Cole Hamels to take the first game of the series.
Who did what?
Cole Hamels (L, ) allowed six runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Yorman Bazardo (W, 1-2) allowed two runs on two hits in five and two-thirds. He walked and struck out four.
Miguel Tejada went 4 for 5 with an RBI.
Carlos Lee went 2 for 5 with a double (33) and two RBIs.
Hunter Pence went 2 for 4 with a double (26) and an RBI.
Jeff Keppinger went 3 for 5 with two RBIs.
What does this mean?
As the Houston Astros put five runs on the board in the seventh inning after having two out and nobody on, I began to think about tonight’s recap. At that point, there isn’t a soul within 200 miles of the Delaware Valley that thought the Phillies had a chance to win that game. That might sound excessively negative, but face facts: They scored two runs (one on a balk, so that doesn’t count) off a pitcher with an ERA that would make for a good credit score. That’s awful.
So I began to mentally write this portion of the recap, and it was awesome. It had all sorts of crazy imagery, like referring to the offense as a tepid pool of urine on asphalt, or how the starting pitching lately has been as effective as a used condom, or how the bullpen has more leaks than the Iraqi Navy. I was especially proud of this recap and all 600 words of anger spilled out onto the keyboard.
But then I thought of the futility of it all, and how it’s all been said before. There are no words that I can write that could possibly sum up the frustrations that this team (and it’s long suffering as of late fans) is going through. So, like I did two days ago, I will defer to the wisdom of Twitter, where the great @valerieduhaime can sum things up far better than my simple mind ever can: “You’ll only need two words: We sucked.”
Faulkner couldn’t have said it better.
What’s next for our heroes?
In game two of the series, Jay Happ (11-4, 2.29) takes on Wilton Lopez (0-0, 8.44)
51 Comments on “September 28 Game Recap: Astros 8, Phillies 2”
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General
September 28th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
6 Left.
3 Needed.
Odds?
September 28th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
This is a really really tough patch for our team. They seem to be playing with almost no confidence, especially when they get behind. I can’t remember a game in the last couple weeks where we were losing and came back to win (we would have had a comeback win against the Fish last week but LOL took care of that).
So even though we could still be 2-3 days away from clinching this thing, I feel physically sick.
Also, a special thanks to Anibal Fuckin’ Sanchez for pitching like an ace against us last week and then walking 8 Braves in 4 innings today. Another giftwrapped win for the Bravos.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
@BigMiles: LOL, I get it! Lights-On-Lidge! LOL! That’s good.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
“In game two of the series, Jay Happ (11-4, 2.29) takes on Wilton Lopez (0-0, 8.44)”
Hmm… scrub pitcher with a shitty ERA that we’ve never faced. Something reeks of familiarity here. Something tells me I’ll need to stop by the liquor store on the way home from work tomorrow.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
@BigMiles: Lose Often Lidge?
NYC dweller here. I feel your pain. I know your pain. I miss your pain. No one cultivates disgust like a Philly team.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I dont know if I should hit the panic button yet..I mean its starting to look like the Mets last year. We should have already clinched this thing by now and resting our starters. Right when we need them to be playing their best and with confidence, its quite the opposite. Our starting pitching is sucking..our closers cant close out games or barely. Where it was once 7.5 games up we are now at 4 with 6 to go I’m not so sure right now. I mean a four game series with a team who has smacked us around all year and then takes a whipping to us to start off this series…its not looking good and with our ace pitcher on the mound none the less. They have the momentum and I’m sure they would love nothing less then to knock down the defending World Champions. This is when you can start biting your nails Philly fans I know that I am.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Fuck! I wanted them to win tonight and tomorrow so they would clinch Wednesday because I’ll be there. Now all I get to see is them clinching their assholes in nervousness
September 28th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
EIGHTH!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 28th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
forget about seeding, as soon as they clinch, they gotta sit down a bulk of the starters. a combination of 3 phillies wins/braves losses in 12 games – figure it’s gotta happen by friday. they’ve been looking sluggish as shit.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
You should change your handle to ” Lidge to no-where”.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Gonzo, you owe me a new, water-spat-on-the-keyboard-free laptop for your random silliness.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Seriously, FUCK THIS TEAM. FUCK THEM IN THE ASS. IF THAT DOESN’T WAKE THEM UP, NOTHING WILL.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I love these comments. You guys are gold. Cause all of my thoughts have been echoed.
This game was torture…and yes omg I’m kinda afraid of going against another pitcher with a crappy ERA cause…lately, they suck butt against them. During the pre-game, Ricky Bo’ mentioned how Bazardo would be easy pickings, and then he stopped himself because he remembered what happened against Parra. Why are they having such a tough time with guys that should just roll over and die?
You know they like bringing things down to the wire. It’s gotta be the last series or nothing at all…heaven forbid they clinch with a fair amount of time left to just rest guys. I’m hoping when I go to sunday’s game that they will have already clinched it. I mean, they can’t just leave it till the last day, can they? *fail*
September 29th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Lynnie, you are too easy. That’s not even my best material.
/clown hat, curly hair, smiley face
September 29th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Good news: Josh Johnson pitching against the Braves tomorrow.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Hey Gonzo, you wanna rephrase that?
What can I tell you? It’s been a long day, that was a shitty game, I’m tired, I’m sometimes easily amused.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:45 am
lol – big hugs to L-Mac.
Just watched the Angels clinch on ESPN. it gave me butterflies. Damn, I want that!
September 29th, 2009 at 1:47 am
I will not go with the usual nonsense, but here is my plug for you guys to keep supporting the team:
Sure, this is maddening baseball from the Phils. It’s not beyond all hope yet, but it’s annoying. With that said, the only reason at all things are scary is because the Braves have won 15/18. That’s a ridiculous run in baseball. If the Braves lose two of those games, we are just mildly panicy about the post-season but still don’t give it too much thought. I will continue to say that the biggest thing in baseball is just making the post season and then just giving it all we got. Hopefully it happens sooner than later, but until then.. Go Phils.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Nobody is going to stop supporting the team we’re just going to say “hey, they’re playing like shit!” when they’re playing like shit. This is not the play of a team that can go deep in the playoffs.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:05 am
It’s like they just don’t want to clinch.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I can’t believe they’re playing like this!! It seem they don’t want to get into the playoffs. No pitching!!
No hitting!!! Get your shit together or just pack your bags. This city deserves better play!! We don’t
carry so much if you lose, but at least try.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:51 am
No. I don’t wanna hear, “OH MY GOD WE AREN’T GOING TO THA PLAYOFFS WHATEVER WILL WE DO?!” shrieking BS.
So they are playing like doo doo. They know it. If they can’t right the ship, shame on them. Fire Milt. And then move on.
But that won’t happen. Like I’ve been saying; they’ll be competitive late into the post season. Just weather the storm, people.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
List of pitchers the Phils have recently faced (#’s before the game)
From The Zo Zone:
*Monday vs. Houston: Yorman Bazardo (0-2, 9.50)
* Sunday in Milwaukee: Dave Bush (5-8, 6.22 ERA)
* Saturday in Milwaukee: Braden Looper (13-7, 5.12 ERA)
* Friday in Milwaukee: Manny Parra (10-10, 6.42 ERA)
* Thursday in Milwaukee: Jeff Suppan (7-10, 4.76 ERA)
* Wednesday in Florida: Rick VandenHurk (2-2, 4.24 ERA)
* Tuesday in Florida: Anibal Sanchez (2-7, 4.50 ERA)
September 29th, 2009 at 8:40 am
gm-carson, if only we could play against lidge.
September 29th, 2009 at 8:54 am
braves magic number = 9 (i think)
September 29th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Chasing Henderson?
September 29th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Push Me
September 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Screw you, Panic Button.
I
Will
Not
September 29th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Aiko, Aiko Hey now.
What is yas, yella? Yas Phillies fans just sounds yellas.
Mine’s Braves is turnin up the heat.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Just out of curiosity – and this is purely hypothetical – what would your reaction be if we missed the playoffs?
September 29th, 2009 at 10:24 am
“At that point, there isn’t a soul within 200 miles of the Delaware Valley that thought the Phillies had a chance to win that game.”
I leaned over to my buddy after the bottom of the 7th and said “Normally I’d hold out hope that we’d score 6 or 7 in the last three innings and take this one, but tonight just doesn’t have that feeling.” Quite honestly, I haven’t had that feeling very often this year.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:30 am
@jdash….my reaction would be mixed. Getting almost 700.00 back in my bank account in ticket mooney would be great, and flyers hockey will be here. I wont have to worry about being outside in crappy weather. I would then get to sit back and watch Shittsburg win 2 more championships, while we get nothing. I would block out any news related to the phillies till the spring training schedule is announced. I will then book a flight and see my annual spring training game with my dad and then i will kick Lidge in the shins after he signs my ball. Then I can start to live again.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:39 am
If we miss the playoffs our WFC honors get a giant “but” at the end, and even if no one says it everyone will secretly question how legit a world series was when both teams failed to make the playoffs the next year. A championship is great and all but I want a dynasty.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I echo Alex – where’s Chasing Henderson???? The one good thing to come from the game last night and it’s nowhere to be found??
If it doesn’t show up soon, a mob will be forming with torches and pitchforks. We might not do anything with them, but we will be a mob.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:54 am
jdash – my reaction would be one part disappointment and one part “thank god all the d-bag bandwaggoners will be gone and I can finally enjoy my not-quite-good-enough team in peace and quiet again…” — and also get more 1/2 off ticket deals next year — and also not have a huge crowd at batting practice, etc.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Happ Lee and Pedro coming up. This team has shown all year that even when they’re in a rut like this they can turn it around and win 10 games in a row. Very streaky team. Its wierd, because in the last 7 games J-Roll has been hitting .296 and scored 7 runs. Usually when he scores a run the Phillies winning percentage is well over .620. Its about time that will turn around. But I don’t think this will be 1964 all over again. We only have to win 3 more games. Assuming the Braves win out…
September 29th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Man…If I’m a fan of the Rockies, Dodgers, Cardinals, or Braves I’m praying my hardest that my team gets to face the Phillies at some point in the playoffs. If you think about it from that perspective, it really shows you how bad a spot they’re in.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:37 am
That’s easy to say when you’re not a fan of one of those teams. I highly doubt any fans are saying that about the defending WFC.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:37 am
@Heathcliff….I never thought of it that way. That would be a nice situation to fall back on. My only main concern, and this is in all seriousness, is that it might give a mental edge to the Mets (and their fans) since we would have blown a division as well.
Another positive would be that I would get to bitch constantly about 2009 to my children and grandchildren just like all the 1964 shit I’ve had to listen to all through the years.
With that being said the Braves will lose tonight, we will win, and all will be well.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Tonight’s Astros starter has an ERA over 8, prepare for the Phillies to be no-hit for at least 6 innings
September 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Like I said, it’s overrrr.
They just need to brush up on their skills for the playoffs.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Honestly though what do you expect them to do in the playoffs like this?
September 29th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Phylan, while the current state of play is frustrating I honestly don’t see it carrying over. I know it’s always good to go into the playoffs hot, but this team can and will turn it on it the post season.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
@bigmiles….to make your met situation even worse, look at what happened to them the year after their collapse…they stank even worse! That could end up being us! I too hope for a phils win and brave loss tonight…this must stop now!
September 29th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
@Jdashdog They will? What makes you think that?
September 29th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Miles – it would definitely suck to have to put up with all the D-Bag Mets fans running their mouths about a Phils collapse. In that way, it’s not allowed to happen.
Also, more ticket availability next year would mean more Mets fans at CBP – something my patience can’t take.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I just have confidence in this team. Maybe I’ve gotten soft after last year, but I’m not worried.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I have every confidence in the hitters, and the starting staff for that matter, but the bullpen simply isn’t good enough for the playoffs, so unless we get a whole bunch of CGs, we won’t go deep.
September 29th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
count me in as part of the nervous bunch
September 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Well, the current state-o-affairs aside, this team is the current World Champion.
They still hold the title, man.
I gotta believe that when that first bell rings whether it be in CBP or another arena, these Fightins will answer that bell (cue “Going the Distance” from the Rocky soundtrack)
September 29th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
don’t think we gotta worry about this team having too much rest going into the postseason