The Philadelphia Phillies had their two-game winning streak snapped on Monday night, falling to the Blue Jays 3-0. Their record drops to 15-15.
- Kyle Kendrick got off to a rough start, allowing three runs over the first two innings. However, he was able to settle down and make it through five more scoreless innings and keep the Phils in the game. He allowed seven hits and three walks.
- Kendrick gave up a lead-off home run to Jose Reyes to begin the game.
- Former Phillie J.A. Happ got the start for Toronto, and held the Phils scoreless through five innings. The Phils had a bases-loaded opportunity against Happ in the second inning, but Kyle Kendrick came to bat with two outs and was unable to get anything done.
- Jimmy Rollins missed today’s game with a groin injury, which led to Freddy Galvis getting a start and batting second in the lineup. Galvis actually managed to pick up his second base hit of the season, but still finished 1-5 with a pop up and a couple of strikeouts.
- Chase Utley and Ryan Howard went a combined 0-8.
- Marlon Byrd went 2-3, including his first triple of the year.
- Carlos Ruiz went 2-3 with a walk.
- Ben Revere went 2-4, and was caught stealing in the first inning.
- The Phillies went 0-6 with runners in scoring position.
- Jake Diekman threw two scoreless innings to finish out the game.
Final Thoughts
J.A. Happ sure has had his old team’s number whenever he’s faced them. Happ is now 3-0 with an ERA below 2.00 against the Phillies.
The Phillies offense continues to struggle. Tonight’s shutout caps a pretty unremarkable stretch in which they’ve now scored three runs or less in four of their last five games. In three of those efforts, they’ve either scored one run or been shut out.
These stretches of terrible offensive play are going to prevent the team from making any serious ground in the standings. Starting pitching has been great, and has been giving the Phils opportunities to win almost every night. But the lineup has been ice cold for two of the last three weeks, and as such the Phillies continue to find their record fluctuating between one game above or below .500.
When Freddy Galvis is the lineup, Ryne Sandberg can’t bat him anywhere but the eight-hole. The guy is about as close to an automatic out as you can possibly get. The Phillies are carrying too much dead weight on their bench. They can’t count on any offensive production from Cody Asche, Jayson Nix, or Galvis.
Asche you can live with because he’s a young player that showed a little promise last year, and there’s still hope he can figure things out. Galvis and Nix both serve the same purpose: they’re a couple of capable utility gloves that you can move around the infield and give you quality defensive play, but won’t do a thing for you at the plate. You can carry one guy like that on your roster, but not two. One of these guys needs to go in favor of another bench player that can actually hit. Kevin Frandsen might have served that role just fine, but the team decided to release him in Spring Training.
is it to soon to start fire ryan chants?
this guy is a buffoon. I watch his interviews and he is just clueless , just throws shit at the wall and in sticks 5% of the time, but he legit seems extremely dumb. not judging a book by its cover either – Charlie sounded like an idiot but knew his shit. this guy sounds like an idiot and his answers are idiotic. it’s scary… that goes back on reub though.
I just don’t understand how ur starting Freddy again and again and again. he is trash, Ryan spent plenty of time with him so he should know. Caesar should have his job and he should have had it when the season started
and on the same night u start galvis u start nix and Mayberry????
get out of my face with this nonsense.this team is being ran by Neanderthals. Sandburg is out there managing like it’s reading
Yeah, because it’s his fault he’s stuck with this abortion of a team. Cut it out mh! Ruin 2morrow should have been gone 2 years ago. Sandburg actually has done a pretty good job, with the slop he’s stuck with coaching.
It’s his fault he keeps starting galvis and nix. When u start one that’s six auto ours minimum taking into account the pitcher. When u start him and nix that’s 9 auto outs.
As much as you hate this team they are an even playing field with the rest of the nl east. Braves, nats, marlins and mets all aren’t good. We are in a position to compete in games when galvis and nix aren’t playing.
Galvis needs to go now and Caesar up.
Need a sense of urgency on this team to keep them motivated and as far as I’m concerned having galvis on this team sucks the life out of the fans and players.
Last night Cesar Hernandez finished 3-for-4 (including a triple) with a walk to raise his average to .341.
mh, the life was sucked out of the fans, when Ruin 2morrow put this team together for the past 3 years, with no upgrades, & the returning AARP members. Thus, the sparse, & waning crowds. The do not have a prayer.
How are they going to get Asche and Brown going without ABs. I could understand if he had legit RH hitters on the bench but Mayberry and Nix are not good. No hits.
And Hernandez needs to be on this team. .He can flat out hit and he actually walks too unlike the Revere. Find a spot, because they need some offense.
I was at the game last night and I gotta say that the more that I see of Byrd, the more I like him. Not flashy, but plays the game the right way.
I didn’t understand why Galvis was batting 2nd and allowed to swing the bat?
Ben Revere started the game with a single. Galvis enters the batters box hitting .058 and is allowed to swing the bat. Why not bunt? Then they try to steal Revere after Galvis pops up to second, only to get caught in a pickle pick off play with Utley in the batters box. What in the world was Ryan Sandberg thinking?
Sandberg is an imbecile