GaryMrMets
06-01-2004, 03:23 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s060104c.htm
Rain falls, but hits don't in Phils' loss
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Lumber stays in slumber
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
For an hour, the Phillies waited. Then for two more hours, they waited. And finally, after all that time . . . they got a hit.
Otherwise, their offense came and went the same way the storms that pelted Citizens Bank Park did Monday afternoon. In the end, they were able to play a full game, but they couldn't generate enough offense in a 5-3 loss to the New York Mets.
It just made a long day even longer. The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 13 minutes by one storm, which let up just enough to allow three innings of play. Then the rains began again, and the two teams retreated to their clubhouse for another 2 hours and 27 minutes.
The combined time of the delays was the fifth-longest in team history and the longest since June 15, 1995, a 3-hour, 51-minute delay during a game at Colorado.
During the delays the Phillies killed time by watching TV and playing cards. As the grounds crew struggled with the tarp and many in the sellout crowd of 43,620 decided to go home, the players knew the game would eventually continue.
"There were a lot of people here, so we figured we were going to play," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "It makes for a long day. But you still got to try and perform well."
Undoubtedly, their impatience grew. But as far as their bats were concerned, it could only get better after the in-game delay.
"We didn't have any hits the first three innings," manager Larry Bowa said, "so I don't think it affected our offense."
Indeed, the Phillies (27-22) managed no hits and one baserunner against Mets starter Matt Ginter. But with the long delay, both Ginter and Phillies starter Brett Myers were done for the day when the teams resumed action.
Finally, with one out in the fourth, Bobby Abreu managed an infield single against right-hander Orber Moreno. But by then, the Mets had a 2-0 lead.
When it became apparent the delay would keep Myers from returning, Bowa quickly tabbed Telemaco.
"You know your role," Telemaco said. "When they came to me, I was ready."
But Telemaco pitched only two innings, leaving after the fifth with the Mets leading, 3-0.
The Phillies finally closed to within a run, though, in the bottom of the fifth when third baseman David Bell singled with two outs to score two. It would be the only clutch hit the Phillies would get all day.
"We just didn't have any big hits," Bowa said.
Pat Burrell drove in the Phillies' other run with an eighth-inning solo home run, a blast that would have tied the game if not for a fateful top of the eighth. With one out and a runner on second, Hernandez induced a ground ball from Shane Spencer, but shortstop Tomas Perez threw wildly to third in an attempt to get the lead runner, Joe McEwing.
McEwing was eventually run down on a comebacker to Hernandez for the second out, but that left runners on second and third - both of which scored on Mike Cameron's two-out double.
"None of (the earlier plays) mattered," Hernandez said. "I was in position to make a pitch to get out of the inning, and I didn't do it."
It ensured an interminably long day for the Phillies would end in an equally intolerable fashion.
Rain falls, but hits don't in Phils' loss
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Lumber stays in slumber
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
PHILADELPHIA
For an hour, the Phillies waited. Then for two more hours, they waited. And finally, after all that time . . . they got a hit.
Otherwise, their offense came and went the same way the storms that pelted Citizens Bank Park did Monday afternoon. In the end, they were able to play a full game, but they couldn't generate enough offense in a 5-3 loss to the New York Mets.
It just made a long day even longer. The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 13 minutes by one storm, which let up just enough to allow three innings of play. Then the rains began again, and the two teams retreated to their clubhouse for another 2 hours and 27 minutes.
The combined time of the delays was the fifth-longest in team history and the longest since June 15, 1995, a 3-hour, 51-minute delay during a game at Colorado.
During the delays the Phillies killed time by watching TV and playing cards. As the grounds crew struggled with the tarp and many in the sellout crowd of 43,620 decided to go home, the players knew the game would eventually continue.
"There were a lot of people here, so we figured we were going to play," reliever Roberto Hernandez said. "It makes for a long day. But you still got to try and perform well."
Undoubtedly, their impatience grew. But as far as their bats were concerned, it could only get better after the in-game delay.
"We didn't have any hits the first three innings," manager Larry Bowa said, "so I don't think it affected our offense."
Indeed, the Phillies (27-22) managed no hits and one baserunner against Mets starter Matt Ginter. But with the long delay, both Ginter and Phillies starter Brett Myers were done for the day when the teams resumed action.
Finally, with one out in the fourth, Bobby Abreu managed an infield single against right-hander Orber Moreno. But by then, the Mets had a 2-0 lead.
When it became apparent the delay would keep Myers from returning, Bowa quickly tabbed Telemaco.
"You know your role," Telemaco said. "When they came to me, I was ready."
But Telemaco pitched only two innings, leaving after the fifth with the Mets leading, 3-0.
The Phillies finally closed to within a run, though, in the bottom of the fifth when third baseman David Bell singled with two outs to score two. It would be the only clutch hit the Phillies would get all day.
"We just didn't have any big hits," Bowa said.
Pat Burrell drove in the Phillies' other run with an eighth-inning solo home run, a blast that would have tied the game if not for a fateful top of the eighth. With one out and a runner on second, Hernandez induced a ground ball from Shane Spencer, but shortstop Tomas Perez threw wildly to third in an attempt to get the lead runner, Joe McEwing.
McEwing was eventually run down on a comebacker to Hernandez for the second out, but that left runners on second and third - both of which scored on Mike Cameron's two-out double.
"None of (the earlier plays) mattered," Hernandez said. "I was in position to make a pitch to get out of the inning, and I didn't do it."
It ensured an interminably long day for the Phillies would end in an equally intolerable fashion.