Notes From The Phillies’ 4-3 Loss To Miami

The Philadelphia Phillies lost their second straight game on Thursday afternoon, falling to the Marlins 4-3. Their record drops to 20-24.

• Cole Hamels got off to a strong start, allowing just two hits through the first 5.2 innings of the game and striking out six. However things would fall apart during his final 1.3 innings, where he would allow three runs.
•  Hamels was under 70 pitches during the sixth inning, but everything came unraveled with a two-out double to Ed Lucas. Giancarlo Stanton then had an opportunity to hit with a runner in scoring position, and he delivered a two-out single to give the Marlins the lead. 
• In the seventh, Hamels allowed a single on the first pitch he threw, and then gave up a two-run homer to Marcel Ozuna.
• It looked as though this was one of those lost days for the Phils offensively. They had no plan of attack for Miami starter Henderson Alvarez, and struggled through their ugliest game in about a week. However, the team would rally to tie the game with a three-run outburst in the eighth.
• Jimmy Rollins turned in another solid game at the top of the order. Rollins had one of the team’s hits, and also worked two walks. He’s continued to show great discipline at the plate, and his walk in the eighth helped kick off the team’s three-run rally. .
• Chase Utley went 2-4 with a single and a double in the eighth.
• Ryan Howard drove in the team’s first run with a sac fly RBI in the eighth.
• Marlon Byrd tied the game on a two-run homer.
• Mike Adams pitched a scoreless eighth.
• Jake Diekman took over in the ninth, and allowed three hits while recording two outs to load the bases. Diekman faced Christian Yelich with the game on the line, and gave up the winning hit.

Final Thoughts

Jimmy Rollins has quietly been having a very good year for the Phillies.

He’s been one of the team’s most reliable hitters all year, and he’s looked particularly strong ever since being placed back in the top of the order. Rollins looks like he’s been making efforts to change his approach at the plate. He’s been seeing a great deal of pitches instead of trying to crush everything he sees. The results are quality at-bats, and guy who is consistently getting on base in the lead-off spot, setting the table for big innings and rallies like the one we saw today in the eighth.

Rollins has also been very successful from a power standpoint as well, he already has as many home runs and triples (six and two) this year as he did all in all of 2013.

Jimmy has a five-game hitting streak going and has hit in nine of his last 11. He’s worked walks in four of his last six, and 10 in his last 10 games overall.

He’s one of the few Phillies that has really been having a quality season, and he should be recognized for it.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save the team from losing the series. The Phillies’ offense was ice cold for the other eight innings, and couldn’t get anything done. Combine that with a shaky bullpen, and it adds up to the Phils dropping a winnable game and losing a series to a division foe.