|
After scoring 12 runs on Monday, the bats are suddenly nonexistent for the Phillies. They wasted a good outing by Jamie Moyer and lost the first of two vs. Cubs in 4-1 loss.
Moyer looked great again, but didn’t have much luck on his side. The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Ryan Theriot singled, stole second base with two outs. Then Starlin Castro hit a weak ground ball that deflected off Placido Polanco's glove and dribbled into left field. Had it not hit the glove, the run would not have scored.
They took a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning on a similar play. With Alfonso Soriano on second with two outs, Jeff Baker hit a line drive off Polanco's glove. Again, the run would not have scored if it didn’t touch his glove. Oh well.
Moyer has been a stud lately. He is 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his last three starts, and 4-2 with a 3.35 ERA in his last six. Overall, he is 5-3 with a 4.30 ERA through eight starts this season.
Unfortunately, the Phillies weren’t able to overcome those 2 runs. Cubs left-hander Tom Gorzelanny had the Phillies number. He allowed three hits through 6 2/3 innings before he left the game in the seventh after Carlos Ruiz ripped a line drive off his left ring finger. The Cubs bullpen took over from there and shut the Phillies out over the last 2 1/3 innings.
The Cubs added two insurance runs in the ninth. Chard Durbin began the inning and left with the bases loaded and 1 out for JC Romero. After getting the first batter he faced on a strikeout, Xavier Nady knocked in two runs with an RBI single to put the Cubs up 4-1.
The Phils went down quickly in the ninth and dropped their second game in a row.
|
