Phillies showing why a five-game series is a risky endeavor
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Phillies showing why a five-game series is a risky endeavor
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
These five-game series are always risky business and by losing Game 2 to the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday night at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies have shown us exactly why.
The Phillies are the better team because they have a superior starting rotation. They proved that over the course of the 162-game season. They won 102 games, the Cardinals won 90.
But the 162-game season and a five-game division series have about as much in common as liberals and conservatives.
If this were even a seven-game series, Cliff Lee would likely get a chance at redemption after giving away a 4-0 lead during the Phillies' 5-4 loss to the Cardinals. Instead, the possibility now exists that Lee will have to live with Game 2 as his final and lasting memory of the 2011 season.
Rest assured, he did not pass on more money in New York because he thought he'd come to Philadelphia and pitch one poor postseason game that could change the course of the Phillies' entire season.
The offense, of course, is not blameless here. One hit and two baserunners in six innings against the Cardinals' bullpen is inexcusable.
"Definitely frustrating," said catcher Carlos Ruiz, who along with Placido Polanco, is hitless in eight at-bats through the first two games of the series. "We knocked out their number one pitcher in (Chris) Carpenter and then after that we can't score another run. You have to give credit to their bullpen."
What may be equally frustrating for the Phillies is that nothing Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa did in the first two games of this NLDS reeked off genius.
He went with Kyle Lohse in Game 1 and the former Phillie was knocked around for five runs and two home runs in the sixth inning of an 11-6 Phillies victory. LaRussa came back with Carpenter on three days' rest in Game 2 and his ace gave up four runs in the first two innings before leaving after three.
Nevertheless, the resilient Cardinals flew home Monday morning with the series even and now they get to pitch Jaime Garcia, the young lefty who has posted a 0.96 ERA in four starts over the last two seasons against the Phillies. Garcia allowed just one earned run in 15 innings against the Phillies this season and was 9-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 starts at Busch Stadium.
The Phillies counter with Cole Hamels, who provided them with a complete-game shutout against Cincinnati to complete a three-game sweep of the Reds in last year's division series. Hamels is coming off his worst month of the season. He went 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA in September and allowed nine home runs, one fewer than he had surrendered during the first five months of the season.
One of Hamels' September losses came to the Cardinals the night after the Phillies clinched their fifth straight division title. He allowed four runs on seven hits, including home runs to Allen Craig and Albert Pujols, the second and third batters in the St. Louis order. Hamels was 7-3 with a 2.93 ERA on the road this season, so he's not likely to be rattled by the hostile environment at Busch Stadium.
Even if the Phillies were to lose Game 3, they would still have a favorable pitching matchup in Game 4 with a resurgent Roy Oswalt likely going against Edwin Jackson.
But by losing Game 2 Sunday night, the Phillies' margin for error in this five-game series shrunk considerably. This is now a best-of-three series and the first two games are in St. Louis.
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- Six of one, half a dozen of the other. If it were the Braves, they'd have just as good a chance with their pitching (starters and bullpen) and offense as the Cards would have. If it were tied 1 to 1 with the Braves now, another "shirleyf" would be making the identical argument you are.
As to Hamels, I have faith in him, but not much in the offense against lefty Garcia at home, especially. However, I have much more confidence in Oswalt and Halladay to win it in 5, if not in 4. 
Anybody notice that Giants baseball cap the 49ers QB was wearing after they beat the Eagles? The curse has been placed, Jobu the Giant is in your house.— channelclemente- Phils have the clueless manager disadvantage --if it's close game Chollie has no clue whom to use off bench or bullpen— warbiscuit
- How can the Phils expect to win the World Series with only one .300 hitter in the line-up? Yes, they did it in 2008. But that was a fluke. Top teams have several .300 hitters.— orange rhino
- The Phillies know they let a 2-0 series lead slip into the night yesterday. They'll be angry tomorrow. Hamels and Oswalt lock it down... Phillies in a rout tomorrow, and win a close game 4 to take the series.— CK_Philly
- This comment has been deleted.— caught-u-sleepin
- Totally agree with you. Nobody knows what Hymee is going to do tomorrow night.. he could get shelled. Victorino has hit lefties all year, and The Piece has been much, much better against lefties this year.
To your point, Victorino is a little cold right now too, but everybody else is getting on base. They could have blown the doors off the Cardinals last night, and let off the gas when they got the 4 run lead. Hopefully it doesn't come back to bite them.— CK_Philly - Oops...I'm wrong about the match up possibility...the Phils couldn't have played the Brave in the NLDS.
I agree with you on that one, robynk.- should let Reid manage the Phils and Manuel can take over coaching dutie for Eagles --certainly neither of them is very good at his current job— warbiscuit
- Missed the post game. Did Cholly say he needs to put his team in a better position to win ?— NewMick314
- Cards were talking about being resilient as if they're the only ones who are. Having watched this Phillies team, we know they do not quit, no matter how emotionally draining it is to watch the offense sometimes. Anyone who thought the Cards would be easy hasn't been paying attention. Hell, I remember the 1980 Houston series; this one has been tame so far compared to that 5 game coronary-inducing roller coaster. Buckle up, and put up your elbows when you head for home plate guys.— ijj
- But Remember! The Giants beating Lee twice last year ... that was a 'fluke', right phans? ha ha ha— stegner
- When the starting pitcher gives up 5 runs on 12 hits, the Phillies deserve to lose. When the Cardinal pitchers completely over-power the feeble Phillies hitters, they deserve to lose. This team is not too swuft and must re-evaluate every aspect of their game!— jpelle36
