Try Again Tomorrow
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Try Again Tomorrow
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
This Phillies team hasn't made anything easy all season, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised by tonight's results. For the first time, their struggles at the plate cost them. Victories in Games 1 and 2 masked the fact that, by and large, they didn't hit.
Tonight, Jamie Moyer got off to a rough start, but nevertheless kept the Phillies in the game for four innings. The bullpen did a solid job, allowing two runs in four innings of work.
Here are some talking points from tonight's 4-1 loss, which cut the Phillies lead in the National League Divisional Series from 2-0 to 2-1. Game 4 is tomorrow afternoon. It will feature RHP Jeff Suppan for the Brewers and, likely, RHP Joe Blanton for the Phillies.
If necesary, Game 5 will be held Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, featuring a marquee pitching match-up between lefthanders Cole Hamels and C.C. Sabathia.
1) Until the ninth inning, when they loaded the bases on singles by Ryan Howard, Greg Dobbs and Shane Victorino, the Phillies were 0-for-7 with Runners in Scoring Position. They finished the night 1-for-11 with RISP.
2) Ryan Howard finished 2-for-4, but the five hitters in the order after him combined for just three hits, two of which came in the ninth inning.
3) The umpires called obstruction on Shane Victorino in the ninth inning, meaning no runners could advance on the play. A run had appeared to score on a GIDP by Pedro Feliz. But after conferring, the umpires brought Ryan Howard out of the dugout and sent Greg Dobbs back to second base.
4) Tomorrow's game is scheduled to start at 1:06 p.m. EST, meaning it will go head-to-head with the Eagles game. Wonder what the ratings will be like in the Delaware Valley for the two respective games. I'm guessing football finishes ahead.
The TBS announcers were brewer fans...What gives? The Phillies need to hit a Home Run early tomorrow or the Brewers will do the same thing. Win.— jmargo23- Utley was terrific again!— OgieOglethorpe
- Is there a reason Chris Coste isn't allowed to play?— hunsinator
- What are the odds of Sabathia being lousy again, especially with 4 days' rest instead of 3? Thanks to their lousy performance tonight with RISP tomorrow is now a MUST-WIN.— Jeg7777
- Oh, and jmargo23 -- the TBS play-by-play guy actually WORKS for the Brewers during the season. What a joke.— Jeg7777
- Its amazing to have an announcer who knows the game (Smoltz) as opposed to Wheels and Sarge. Does the Brewers guy have an impact on the game? They were ripping HP umpire Runge for his movable strike zone which hurt Moyer.— natedog
