A big one-game hole
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
A big one-game hole
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies have played 26 postseason games over the last two season. In all 26, they entered with either a series lead or tie. Tonight, that changes.
In a pivotal Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies jumped out to a 3-0 lead but couldn't hold on, as Cole Hamels and the Phillies bullpen allowed the Yankees to score eight runs in the fourth through eight innings en route to a 8-5 loss. Now, the Phillies face arguably their most pressure-packed postseason game since they took the field in Denver in 2007 trailing the Rockies two games-to-none in the NLDS.
Look at it one way, and they are very much alive. After all, one of these two teams was going to finish Halloween night trailing 2-1. In Game 4, they'll face Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia, whom they defeated 6-1 in Game 1.
Look at it another way, and their loss Saturday night gave the Yankees a victory whose importance far outweighs the one-game lead they now enjoy.
True, the Phillies have beaten Sabathia three times over the last two years, twice in the playoffs. But they didn't exactly dominate him in Game 2, scoring two runs in seven innings before the Yankees' bullpen allowed them to put the game out of reach. And they'll have to buck several trends if they are to beat him for the second time in five days.
Sabathia lost eight games during the regular season. He recorded back-to-back losses just once. In the eight starts that followed his eight losses, the big lefty went 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA. The Yankees lost back-to-back games in which Sabathia pitched just twice this season -- on April 27 and May 2 against the Tigers and the Angels, and on June 6 and 11 against the Rays and the Red Sox.
True, Sabathia will be pitching on three days rest. But he did so in the ALCS and held the Angels to one run on four hits and one walk over eight innings. In four career regular season starts on three days rest, Sabathia is 3-1 with a 1.01 ERA.
This time around, he won't have Phillies ace Cliff Lee to suck the life out of his teammates. Sabathia will be squaring off against Joe Blanton, who allowed four runs in six innings in a Game 4 start in the NLCS. Blanton pitched well in the World Series last year, allowing two runs in six innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.
But unless Blanton holds his opponent scoreless, something he did three times during the regular season, the Phillies will have to hit. They did so at times in Game 3 -- Jayson Werth hit two solo home runs and Pedro Feliz doubled with one out in a three-run second inning -- but for the most part they were the beneficiaries of poor command on the part of Pettitte, who walked one run home, and shoddy defense on the part of the Yankees defense (the Yankees failed to field a sacrifice bunt attempt that would have represented the second out of the second inning, loading the bases to set-up Jimmy Rollins' bases loaded walk and Shane Victorino's sacrifice fly.
The Phillies' three lefty sluggers, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, combined to go 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts. Utley and Howard struck out with a man on second in the first inning. Utley struck out looking with men on first and second to end the second inning.
Had the Cole Hamels pitched his entire outing the way he pitched his first three-plus innings, the offense would have been enough. But after cruising through the early part of the game, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, Hamels ran into one of the walls that have so often plagued him during this disappointing season. After a borderline 3-2 fastball to Mark Teixiera was called a ball with one out in the fourth inning, he struggled. He threw a fastball down the middle that Alex Rodriguez hit to the opposite field for a two-run home run. Hamels got out of that inning, but imploded in the fifth against the bottom of the Yankees order. A curve ball that he threw just twice during the first four innings proved to be his undoing. Four of the first 10 pitches he threw in the fifth were curves, one of which Nick Swisher crushed for a leadoff double, and another of which Andy Pettitte hit into center field for an RBI single that set the stage for a big inning.
Manuel lifted Hamels after just 69 pitches -- after Pettitte's single, he allowed a single to Derek Jeter and a two-run single to Johnny Damon, then walked Teixeira.
A solid bullpen effort might have staunched the bleeding. But J.A. Happ and Brett Myers allowed solo home runs and Chad Durbin allowed one run in one inning of work.
For one of the few times this postseason, none of Manuel's moves seemed to work.
- Veteran righthander Chan Ho Park, the Phillies most dominant multiple-innings reliever during the regular season, did not appear in the game.
- In the sixth inning, with two out and a runner on first, he pinch-hit Eric Bruntlett instead of Ben Francisco, who was 2-for-5 with a walk in his career off of Pettitte.
- In the ninth inning, he allowed the right-handed hitting Pedro Feliz to face Yankees set-up man Phil Hughes, rather than the left-handed hitting Greg Dobbs, whom the team said had shaken his flu bug and was available for work. Feliz grounded out. The next batter, Carlos Ruiz, hit a solo home run that proved to be meaningless.
For the first time in this series, the Yankees were clearly the better team. As a result, the Phillies trail 2-1.We have heard countless times about the mental fortitude that exists in the home clubhouse. On Sunday night, it will face perhaps it's biggest test yet.
Pratt, I still believe also, but in the players. I raise my case against Charlie.— EL Zorro- When it becomes time to negotiate a new contract with Lee, the Phils should just hand him a blank check. Hamels, while still only 25, needs to learn how to man up. I don't see him ever being a staff ace. With Blanton going tonight, it does not look good for the Phils. But if it gets to game 7, I would not give the ball to Hamels. Put a fork in him.— sazeracking
- Hey Bailey one; you're wrong again. If you didin't hear a 'peep' out of me in the Bronx after the first two games its because you read the wrong column. After 2 games it was 1-1 or didn't you know that? If I was a fair weather fan why wouldn't I have commented then, it was tied. By the By, I am a died in the wool Yankee and Giant fan. I hope the Beagles and the Floosies win more then the Mets and Jets. However you Phillies did all right with your one man pitching staff so be proud. Its just that the Yanks are to strong on the mound for the Phils to compete successfully.— kenvan
- Hey Rollins, here's a prediction for you. By this time next week, you'll be a has-been.— JimmyH
- Why is Hamels throwing a fat curve to the pitcher? WTF? He said b/c he felt that Pettite would lift a bunt in the air for an out? What bunt?! The runner was on 2nd base. Why would Pettite bunt? Has Hamels lost his mind?— farside37
- As goes Howard, so go the Phillies. Starting Hamels over Happ was an idiot move. If the Phils lose the series, look to game 3 as the turning point.— Manor2009
- Would be nice if Utley would swing at a first pitch once in awhile. Seems like he never does and the pitchers know it and he's behind from the start.— ziller0604
- 2009 Repeat....Repeat this..Not This Year...— BlueBlood
- This will not be the Sabathia who was burned out by the Brewers pitching him on three days rest every start last year...Maybe Jimmy Rollins should just keep his mouth shut about who's going to win, and who has the better fans and ballparks...Try racking up some hits to justify the alligator mouth overloading the tweety bird @#$....— nichoj19
- Cole Hamel needs a shrink to get his emotions under control, its gone and he will never be the same. Think about a trade in the off season maybe that will get him out of his head.— jbarrylee
- Bailey1....Tell the truth...you were sitting in the pumpkin patch all last night waiting for the GREAT PUMPKIN to come and bring you candy, and tell you that the Phillies are going to win the series...Weren't you???— nichoj19
- pariah- thats already moved to 170 which is closer to where it should be. that means EVERYONE is betting on the Yanks. Not a good sign.
- Hamels is done for. He CANNOT be used in the WS anymore. The total way he pouted after GayRod's HR and Pettitte single was well disgusting. I have been a HUGE fan of Cholly and thinks he catches way too much hell..... BUT if Cole pitches again then I will have no choice but to turn on Cholly.— wxdavid
- Sure the Phillies will HIT CC well. Everyone knows THAT. The Issue is Blnton. IF he goes 6 or 7 and gives up 3 or 4 runs the Phillies could --likely even-- win that Game. That is something Cole has NOT been able to do for Months.— wxdavid
- Rollins was right. This Series will end in five games.— PeterW
