Feliz: I just missed it
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Feliz: I just missed it
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
You could say that Pedro Feliz makes the play 99 out of 100 times, and his .974 fielding percentage from a year ago would make you pretty close to being factually accurate. But the exception occurred last night, as a hard ground ball from Russell Martin with two out in the ninth inning bounced off his glove, loading the bases and setting up a game-winning two-run single by Andre Ethier off of Brad Lidge.
"I just missed it," Feliz said. He declined further comment, but there really wasn't much else to say.
Lidge was charged with his fifth blown save, but he didn't look unlike the Lidge who went a perfect 41-for-41 last season. He retired his first two batters, then gave up a single off the end of Casey Blake's bat on a slider that hit its intended spot. His biggest miscue was walking James Loney, but the grounder from Martin should have ended the game.
"Casey Blake did a good job of getting the bat on the ball on a good pitch down -- slider where I wanted it," Lidge said. "Loney did a good job battling and he got on base, and then, obviously Pedro makes that play as good as anybody -- I don't even want to know the percentage on it. It's something you never see. I'll take my chances with him over anybody, really."
Instead, what looked to be the Phillies eighth-straight victory turned into perhaps its most heartbreaking loss of the season. Instead of improving to 33-20 and maintaining their four-game lead in the National League East, they let a game against the best team in the majors slip away.
"This season hasn't gone quite as smooth as last year, I know that," Lidge said. "But I've been feeling great and I felt really good again tonight. It's frustrating, no question. You want everything to go well. . .They're all frustrating, really. But I feel real good right now and for me I'll just take it as a continuation of that and just a real freak thing that you aren't going to see very often."
They also squandered a brilliant performance from Jamie Moyer, who allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings.
Now, they'll try to rebound in an afternoon game with Joe Blanton on the mound.
The Phillies squandered a couple chances to score, but also got a fortuitous plan when Orlando Hudson mishandled a ground ball in the fourth inning and allowed Chris Coste to reach base. Coste ultimately scored on a two-run double by Chase Utley.
"I guess about the only thing you can say is what old Yogi (Berra) used to say," manager Charlie Manuel said. "It's not over until the fat lady sings. Or it's never over till it's over. Standing there with two outs and two strikes on a hitter and you end up losing a game. That's kind of how it goes sometimes. That's how it went tonight."
don't get to see to many phillie games since i live in LA, but i did see game 4 and game 5 in the NLCS, and that was heaven ... but you hit the nail on the head when you say its the most heartbreaking loss of the season... Standing there with two outs and two strikes on a hitter and you end up losing a game ... yeah i'm bummed too ...— jimiburnz- Glad I fell asleep and missed; wouldn't have been able to sleep.— wooderice
- Could we organize a petition to send to charlie and beg him not to play Bruntlett or at the least ,never in the outfield..I blame charlie...the player will do as he is told..when a player is hitting 120,what does the lefthanded right handed have to do with anything>— COMMISH78
- Lidge is on the barge floating down the Wide River in Egypt.... denial. Captain Obvious is here to report that we had 4 exceptional outings without Lidge's "help". Shame on Charlie for putting him in. Something is wrong! If I read one more article with Lidge saying he's fine & right where he wants to be, I'm going to pitch the computer out the window. Let's put the egos and the tender little feelings away and acknowledge the problem and fix it!— PhillyfaninFL
- Lidge is still a PUZZLE this season ! He says he is OK, but he is not OK. Blown saves and an ERA of 7.3 is not OK. Really a shame for Jamie Moyer, he pitched great Friday night. Feliz error; it happens, this one at the wrong time. A shame but only one game, move on. WM— waynermartin
- If pedro makes that play no one is talking about Lidge, he made great pitches with the exception of the walk. You cant give a team 5 outs and thats what happend.....pedro and eric have to make those plays...simple as that.......we are spolied cause brad was perfect last year....— eagles2010
yes lidge hasn't been great this year but last night wasn't entirely his fault. feliz has to make that play. i think getting two strikes on batters and not finishing them off is the difference for lidge this season compared to last year.- He made great pitches? What was that double? I guess that doesnt count because it wouldnt have come to that without the error. Face it he blew it (again) Maybe today he wont. Hey Delaware, it appears the better or even matched team did win, yesterday too. Can we stop the whining about the better team lost. Jeez what an embarrasment— zer1233
Comment removed.- feliz sounds like Maxwell Smart. I missed it by that much.— P Even
- Lidge's pitches were popping last night. His slider was tight and his fastball was topping off at 95. I never would have believed you if you told me they would have lost that game after the way he out-classes the first two hitters in the 9th.— cps147
- Pedro admitted that the loss was basically his fault. Lidge is fine, people. He was not going to be perfect like last year, but i promise that he will be just fine in august and september when it is really crunch time.— phillyfan14
- Sure he gave up a double. Of course he is not perfect. Do you want him shut down because of this outing? Please ! Mariano Rivera has been known to give up a hit once in a while. Its baseball, Today is another day and he will be back out there if necessary. I'll take 7 out of 8 and look ahead to another winning streak. Great job by Jamie.— mick314
- this was a team loss. Nothing more and this won't be the last one. The players don't hold the loss against anyone .Why should we? Stuff happen with humans.— pattymac3
- I thought Lidge's stuff looked great last nite, this kind of stuff just happens. Feliz has probably saved a few dozen runs this year already, so you can't place too much blame on him. We'll find out more about this team by the way they respond to this loss than in how they lost the game. I'm pretty confident they'll be just fine today and set themselves up to take three out of four with the kid on the hill tomorrow nite.— celtic_13
