Quality Start by Myers Wasted in Frustrating Loss

Phillies' starter Brett Myers allowed only a single run in his six innings. The Phils had scraped together a 2-1 lead, and a 68.9% WE, as play entered the seventh inning. Manager Charlie Manuel had his entire bullpen available to finish the game. Innings from Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, and Brad Lidge would close out the victory. But Manuel chose, inexplicably, to start the seventh with Jack Taschner, his weakest reliever. When the inning ended, the Phils trailed 3-2, with their WE reduced to 36.9%. Their WE would never get higher, as they fell to the Atlanta Braves, 4-2.

Myers surrendered five hits and two walks, and hit a pair of batters. He threw only fifty-five of his ninety-two pitches for strikes. He was often wild, but was able to minimize the damage. He got out of first-inning trouble with only a 1-0 deficit, and kept the ball in the park. It was a quality start, and it should have been enough to win. Myers, probably, could have gone another inning, but Manuel opted to pinch-hit for Myers in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs grounded out to end the inning, stranding a runner at third. The decision to pinch-hit for Myers was the correct one, but bringing Taschner in to replace Myers may have cost the Phils the game.

Taschner would not have been in position to blow the game, if the offense had made better use of their chances. The Phils left nine on base, as too many key at bats were squandered. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Carlos Ruiz were all held hitless. Braves' starter Kenshin Kawakami was, repeatedly, let off the hook as the Phillies took poor approaches at the plate, hacking away to little avail. When they did make good contact, as Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez did in the eighth inning, an ill wind kept the ball in the park. It was a very frustrating loss, as it was a game the Phillies really should have won.

The Phillies have Monday off, before hosting the Dodgers on Tuesday night. Chan Ho Park gets the start. Hopefully, he pitches as well as he did in his previous start. With the Phillies' struggles over the past week, it wouldn't be surprising to see some personnel changes in the next few days. Closer Brad Lidge could be placed on the DL to rest his knee. Miguel Cairo, Jack Taschner, and Chris Coste shouldn't be feeling too comfortable about their roster spots. There aren't too many Phillies who should be feeling good about their recent play. But, at only a game and a half behind in the NL East, there is still time to get things back on track.