GaryMrMets
06-02-2004, 03:19 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8815722.htm
Posted on Wed, Jun. 02, 2004
Clutch hits elude the Phils yet again
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
It's almost inexplicable.
A little more than a week ago, the Phillies had been scoring runs in bunches for almost a month as they soared to the top of the National League East. But ever since the Phillies played the New York Mets at Shea Stadium last week, they have had their share of troubles.
Those troubles continued last night at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position and the Mets scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning in a 4-1 victory.
"I think we have the guys that'll definitely do the job with runners in scoring position," said third baseman David Bell, who entered last night hitting .324 in those situations. "It'll definitely come."
The Phillies, who have lost six of 10 to drop to 27-23, lost their first series since May 4-6 against St. Louis. They remained two games behind the Florida Marlins in the NL East. Since a 5-0 loss to the Mets on May 25, they are 7 for 71 with runners in scoring position.
As the Phillies' average in that situation dipped to .214 for the season, Bell considered it more an illusion than reality. "Guys here have done it [hit with runners on base] for their whole careers," he said.
The Phillies had one of their best chances with the game tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the ninth. They had runners on first and second with one out as Bobby Abreu stepped in to pinch-hit against Mets righthander and former Phillies all-star Ricky Bottalico.
Abreu flied out to center.
Rightfielder Jason Michaels, who started in Abreu's place, struck out looking to end the inning.
"I was happy... to get out of that jam," Bottalico said. "Abreu and Michaels are not the two easiest guys to get out.
"I've played here before. And I've pitched against them before. For the most part it's just nice to get a win anywhere. But to do it against a team the caliber of the Phillies is great."
The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the seventh. Outfielder Ricky Ledee had a pinch-hit, one-out single to right. Ledee is 8 for 23 (.349) with six walks, two home runs and eight RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season.
Ledee moved to second on a balk and to third on a fielder's choice. Centerfielder Doug Glanville, who started in place Marlon Byrd for the third time in the last seven games, then singled to right to score Ledee as the Phillies took a 1-0 lead.
Phillies manager Larry Bowa said after the game that Byrd, who has struggled recently, will not play again today in hopes that a cleared mind will help him get on track.
The Phillies, who hit a National League-low .208 with just 21 runs in their previous seven games, had been 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position last night until Glanville's hit.
But the lead didn't last.
Mets third baseman Todd Zeile hit a home run off Phillies lefthander Rheal Cormier leading off the eighth inning to tie the score. Later, Zeile's chopper just over Tim Worrell's head scored Kaz Matsui to make it 2-1 in the 10th. Vance Wilson followed two batters later with a two-run homer to right field to put the game away.
Phillies righthander Kevin Millwood watched helplessly from the dugout. He looked like a different man since his last start Thursday, when he issued a career-high six walks and hit a batter in just four innings in a 6-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
In his previous three starts, Millwood had walked 13 batters in 15 innings as his ERA climbed from 3.55 to 4.90.
But Millwood said he figured out a few things between then and last night.
It showed as he allowed just four hits in seven shutout innings.
He walked Mets leftfielder Cliff Floyd with two outs in the first, but didn't allow another free pass until he hit catcher Mike Piazza with a pitch with two outs in the sixth. Millwood stayed out of trouble for the most part. The Mets had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but he struck out Matsui and Zeile to end the inning. After Millwood plunked Piazza in the sixth, Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell made a diving catch to kill a potential rally.
Burrell made another rally-killing catch in the ninth.
But in the end Bowa could only lament the missed opportunities. He had no explantion for it.
"We're just not hitting," he said.
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/8813/77673586012.jpg
The Phillies Kevin Millwood pitches against the New York Mets.
Posted on Wed, Jun. 02, 2004
Clutch hits elude the Phils yet again
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
It's almost inexplicable.
A little more than a week ago, the Phillies had been scoring runs in bunches for almost a month as they soared to the top of the National League East. But ever since the Phillies played the New York Mets at Shea Stadium last week, they have had their share of troubles.
Those troubles continued last night at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position and the Mets scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning in a 4-1 victory.
"I think we have the guys that'll definitely do the job with runners in scoring position," said third baseman David Bell, who entered last night hitting .324 in those situations. "It'll definitely come."
The Phillies, who have lost six of 10 to drop to 27-23, lost their first series since May 4-6 against St. Louis. They remained two games behind the Florida Marlins in the NL East. Since a 5-0 loss to the Mets on May 25, they are 7 for 71 with runners in scoring position.
As the Phillies' average in that situation dipped to .214 for the season, Bell considered it more an illusion than reality. "Guys here have done it [hit with runners on base] for their whole careers," he said.
The Phillies had one of their best chances with the game tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the ninth. They had runners on first and second with one out as Bobby Abreu stepped in to pinch-hit against Mets righthander and former Phillies all-star Ricky Bottalico.
Abreu flied out to center.
Rightfielder Jason Michaels, who started in Abreu's place, struck out looking to end the inning.
"I was happy... to get out of that jam," Bottalico said. "Abreu and Michaels are not the two easiest guys to get out.
"I've played here before. And I've pitched against them before. For the most part it's just nice to get a win anywhere. But to do it against a team the caliber of the Phillies is great."
The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the seventh. Outfielder Ricky Ledee had a pinch-hit, one-out single to right. Ledee is 8 for 23 (.349) with six walks, two home runs and eight RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season.
Ledee moved to second on a balk and to third on a fielder's choice. Centerfielder Doug Glanville, who started in place Marlon Byrd for the third time in the last seven games, then singled to right to score Ledee as the Phillies took a 1-0 lead.
Phillies manager Larry Bowa said after the game that Byrd, who has struggled recently, will not play again today in hopes that a cleared mind will help him get on track.
The Phillies, who hit a National League-low .208 with just 21 runs in their previous seven games, had been 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position last night until Glanville's hit.
But the lead didn't last.
Mets third baseman Todd Zeile hit a home run off Phillies lefthander Rheal Cormier leading off the eighth inning to tie the score. Later, Zeile's chopper just over Tim Worrell's head scored Kaz Matsui to make it 2-1 in the 10th. Vance Wilson followed two batters later with a two-run homer to right field to put the game away.
Phillies righthander Kevin Millwood watched helplessly from the dugout. He looked like a different man since his last start Thursday, when he issued a career-high six walks and hit a batter in just four innings in a 6-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
In his previous three starts, Millwood had walked 13 batters in 15 innings as his ERA climbed from 3.55 to 4.90.
But Millwood said he figured out a few things between then and last night.
It showed as he allowed just four hits in seven shutout innings.
He walked Mets leftfielder Cliff Floyd with two outs in the first, but didn't allow another free pass until he hit catcher Mike Piazza with a pitch with two outs in the sixth. Millwood stayed out of trouble for the most part. The Mets had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but he struck out Matsui and Zeile to end the inning. After Millwood plunked Piazza in the sixth, Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell made a diving catch to kill a potential rally.
Burrell made another rally-killing catch in the ninth.
But in the end Bowa could only lament the missed opportunities. He had no explantion for it.
"We're just not hitting," he said.
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/8813/77673586012.jpg
The Phillies Kevin Millwood pitches against the New York Mets.