The Philadelphia Phillies lost their Grapefruit League against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon.
- Jeff Manship got the start, and allowed two runs on six hits over four innings. Manship gave up a solo homer to Andrew McCutchen in the first, and then an RBI single to Nate Walker in the third.
- Justin De Fratus and Jake Diekman each threw a scoreless inning.
- B.J. Rosenberg had a terrible outing, allowing four runs on five hits in just 1.1 innings. Rosenberg kept getting tagged for single after single, and even gave up one to former Phillie Michael Martinez.
- Jimmy Rollins returned to the lineup, and went 0-4 with a strikeout, leaving three runners on.
- Chase Utley went 1-4, driving in two runs.
- Carlos Ruiz went 0-4 and left two on.
- Ryan Howard went 1-4 with a solo home run, his first of the spring.
- Darin Ruf went 2-4 with a double and drove in a run.
- Domonic Brown had has third straight productive game, gong 1-2 with two walks.
- John Mayberry and Cody Asche each went 1-3 with a walk.
Final Thoughts
The Phillies have been on a bit of a roll offensively, scoring at least five runs in each of their last three games.
Are you encouraged or reserved about the offense’s improved play?
We’ve seen this offense go through dreadful cold spells like the one they’ve been in through the first week of Spring Training, and we’ve also seen them go through brief periods of success. Right now you have to hope that the hitters just continue to take small steps in the right direction everyday as the regular season approaches.
Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have three and four-game hitting streaks right now. Neither has had a multi-hit game or hit for much power, but the two have combined for five RBI’s over the last couple of days.
After watching the team struggle through some terrible efforts over the first 13 games, we’ll take any positives we can get.
wishful thinking dont drink the koolaid
If Ryan Howard plays all season he will hit .260 with 3 HR, 100 RBId & 175 strikeouts.
Howard with 500 At Bats will get his 30HR
And 900-100 RBI’s, the key is will this Production
Come in the later parts of the game to be meaningful
Or will 20 HR’s come when losing 6-1 or with a comfortable lead
He & Utley need to produce in the 7th,8th & 9th Innings when games are actually decided in MLB and this has been his issue in the past..
Even when he has fully healthy.. The big Bats need to hit & come thru when it really counts..
‘An issue in the past’? WTF are you talking about… He hasn’t played in two years but before that he was in top ten in MVP voting like every year…. He carried the team on his back especially late in the season when games were critical… You continue to say things without any thought or background
Howard has rarely been “Clutch” in my opinion,
Yes he hits HR’s but most of time in games that have already been decided..
Check his Batting Average & Production in the last Onnings of a Ballgame over his Career and they average to below average..
Year after year top ten MVP .. Enough said
Troll-man never posts anything that means shit, or carries any weight.. Other than that load in his cheeks.. Lmfao let me stop.. Haha
Paulman Rumors down in Clearwater…
With the Detroit Tigers losing their Short-Stop
Julio Inglesias thru the All-Star break and possibly longer due to
Shin splints, they have reached out to Phils about
SS Jimmy Rollins availability..
Tigers have no one else ready to take over SS
And would like to bring a veteran SS in as they are
Built to Win this Season… Stay Tuned..