THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Starting pitching has been the Phillies' biggest problem all season, ever since Brett Myers watched three home runs sail over the fence at Citizens Bank Park in an opening-night loss.
The rotation may require another adjustment now, after Antonio Bastardo - himself an imperfect substitute for the injured Myers - suffered a left-shoulder strain last night in the fourth inning of a 10-4 loss to Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. The Phillies have dropped eight of their last nine games, and lost two of three in a sloppy series here.
"When you play like that right there, there's a good chance you're going to lose some more," said manager Charlie Manuel. "I don't think anyone in this clubhouse would tell you that's a good way to play."
Bastardo, 23, may have thrown his last pitch for a while. The lefthander's velocity was consistently in the mid- to high-80s before he left the game, down from the low- to mid-90s of recent starts. Although the Phillies do not need a fifth starter until July 4, triple-A pitchers Andrew Carpenter and Carlos Carrasco are strong candidates to replace Bastardo, and the Phillies continue to explore trade possibilities.
Bastardo said through interpreter Raul Ibanez that he has felt recent stiffness in the shoulder, but the problem worsened during last night's game. "It's a tightness that I feel, that I can't throw the way I want to," he said. "I felt it [before], but not as much as I did today."
The pitcher said he would consult with the team medical staff today. No further details about the injury were immediately available.
Pitching was not the Phillies' only problem last night, as they continued their recent run of uncharacteristic mental lapses. Trailing by just two runs in the sixth, the Phils had Matt Stairs on third and Pedro Feliz on first with one out. Eric Bruntlett flied to center, and Feliz was doubled off first base. Despite the gaffe, Stairs would have scored had he crossed home plate before the out was recorded at first, but he did not run fast enough.
"What can you say?" said an incredulous Manuel of Feliz. "He forgot how many outs there were."
More than 31/2 hours before it ended as an ugly slog, the night had begun hopefully for the Phils, who scored four runs in the first. But Bastardo quickly allowed the Rays to assume control, allowing three runs in the first and three in the second. His early deficit washed away, Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine shut down the Phillies, and Tampa Bay added three in the sixth and one in the seventh.
"The whole momentum of the game shifted," Manuel said. "That's the way it goes sometimes."
The manager, clearly frustrated, indicated that the time to address his team might be approaching. "It's boiling over," he said. "One of these days, the dam will burst."
New photos: Jrue Holiday
