GaryMrMets
07-01-2004, 03:06 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9053116.htm
Posted on Thu, Jul. 01, 2004
Expos rally for win as Phils' bullpen falters
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
Two wins.
One loss.
Up and down. Back and forth. Just when it seemed the Phillies were about to have their first three-game winning streak since May, just when it looked like they had found some consistency, they blew a one-run lead in the eighth inning last night in a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Expos at Citizens Bank Park.
"You don't get anywhere playing like that," said Phillies setup man Tim Worrell, who allowed four runs in the eighth. "It's a little frustrating as a team. But we're at the beginning of a [14-game] homestand and we're 2-1. I can't tell if we're playing bad. I can't tell if we're playing good. We just kind of do the same thing day in and day out. Tonight was my part in contributing to the so-so play. But we still have a chance to definitely end up with a good homestand."
If the Phillies had held on to win, they also would have had a shot at their first series sweep since May, when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Bank from May 18 through 20.
"It's hard to explain why it happens," said Phillies first baseman Jim Thome, who hit a two-run homer, his major-league-leading 27th, in the fifth to hand the Phillies a 3-2 lead. "But it happens."
Rheal Cormier to Worrell to Billy Wagner is how the Phillies love to have the bullpen set up with a victory on the line, but last night it went Cormier to Worrell to Geoff Geary instead, after Worrell ran into problems in the eighth.
Worrell had not allowed a run since June 1, a stretch of 10 appearances and 91/3 scoreless innings.
He has been every bit the setup man the Phillies touted when they signed him in the off-season. But every streak ends, and his ended last night. Expos second baseman Jose Vidro smacked a one-out single to right field, and unexpectedly ran for third on Nick Johnson's single to center. Phillies centerfielder Doug Glanville, who was playing deep, held his throw initially before he threw back to the infield.
Vidro cruised into third.
"That was a pretty good piece of baserunning by Vidro," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "That set up the whole inning... . I think Glanville got caught off guard a little. He probably didn't expect Vidro to go. He probably didn't get any help from his fellow outfielders, either. It was some gutsy baserunning. [Vidro] surprised us in the dugout, so I'm sure he surprised Glanville."
Said Vidro: "I was getting close to second and I could see he wasn't charging the ball, so I decided to go to third. He doesn't have the best arm, so I took my chances."
With runners on first and third with one out, Tony Batista hit a sacrifice fly to score Vidro and tie the game. Johnson moved to second.
Worrell intentionally walked Terrmel Sledge, then Juan Rivera hit a sinking line drive to right field. Rightfielder Bobby Abreu tried to make a diving catch, but the ball landed just before it his glove. Abreu deflected the ball back toward the infield, but Johnson had scored to give the Expos the lead.
Worrell walked Brian Schneider and allowed a two-run single to pinch-hitter Carl Everett to make it 6-3.
Bowa replaced Worrell with Geary to mop up the inning.
Wagner would have to wait to pitch another day.
The Expos had been 0-37 this season when trailing after seven innings before last night.
"It's hard to put a finger on it," Worrell said. "We played a good game. We had it set up the way we wanted it, and then I don't get it done. It's no one area. It's no one thing. It seems like it's something different all the time."
It should be noted that the Phillies also left 13 runners on base. They were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. That inconsistency at the plate has hindered them all season.
Phillies fans were in a much better mood after Thome homered in the fifth. He tied Cy Williams for the most homers in a month in franchise history with 15. Williams hit 15 in May 1923 on the way to his best year in 19 seasons in baseball with 41 homers and 114 RBIs.
Thome could have those numbers by August.
The Phillies also finished the month with 44 homers, the most in franchise history. That could be broken this month.
Phillies starter Paul Abbott allowed two runs, five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. He allowed a leadoff homer to Batista in the second to make it 1-1, and a one-out homer to centerfielder Brad Wilkerson in the fifth as the Expos took a 2-1 lead.
In four starts since the Phillies signed him June 9, Abbott is 0-2 with a 5.03 ERA.
"This team is too good and too deep," Abbott said about trying for his first victory with the Phillies. "It'll happen."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/9051/81928546778.jpg
Jimmy Rollins slides home safely with the Phillies’ first run after a wild pitch by Expos starter Zach Day, who covered the plate on the first-inning play.
Posted on Thu, Jul. 01, 2004
Expos rally for win as Phils' bullpen falters
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
Two wins.
One loss.
Up and down. Back and forth. Just when it seemed the Phillies were about to have their first three-game winning streak since May, just when it looked like they had found some consistency, they blew a one-run lead in the eighth inning last night in a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Expos at Citizens Bank Park.
"You don't get anywhere playing like that," said Phillies setup man Tim Worrell, who allowed four runs in the eighth. "It's a little frustrating as a team. But we're at the beginning of a [14-game] homestand and we're 2-1. I can't tell if we're playing bad. I can't tell if we're playing good. We just kind of do the same thing day in and day out. Tonight was my part in contributing to the so-so play. But we still have a chance to definitely end up with a good homestand."
If the Phillies had held on to win, they also would have had a shot at their first series sweep since May, when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Bank from May 18 through 20.
"It's hard to explain why it happens," said Phillies first baseman Jim Thome, who hit a two-run homer, his major-league-leading 27th, in the fifth to hand the Phillies a 3-2 lead. "But it happens."
Rheal Cormier to Worrell to Billy Wagner is how the Phillies love to have the bullpen set up with a victory on the line, but last night it went Cormier to Worrell to Geoff Geary instead, after Worrell ran into problems in the eighth.
Worrell had not allowed a run since June 1, a stretch of 10 appearances and 91/3 scoreless innings.
He has been every bit the setup man the Phillies touted when they signed him in the off-season. But every streak ends, and his ended last night. Expos second baseman Jose Vidro smacked a one-out single to right field, and unexpectedly ran for third on Nick Johnson's single to center. Phillies centerfielder Doug Glanville, who was playing deep, held his throw initially before he threw back to the infield.
Vidro cruised into third.
"That was a pretty good piece of baserunning by Vidro," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "That set up the whole inning... . I think Glanville got caught off guard a little. He probably didn't expect Vidro to go. He probably didn't get any help from his fellow outfielders, either. It was some gutsy baserunning. [Vidro] surprised us in the dugout, so I'm sure he surprised Glanville."
Said Vidro: "I was getting close to second and I could see he wasn't charging the ball, so I decided to go to third. He doesn't have the best arm, so I took my chances."
With runners on first and third with one out, Tony Batista hit a sacrifice fly to score Vidro and tie the game. Johnson moved to second.
Worrell intentionally walked Terrmel Sledge, then Juan Rivera hit a sinking line drive to right field. Rightfielder Bobby Abreu tried to make a diving catch, but the ball landed just before it his glove. Abreu deflected the ball back toward the infield, but Johnson had scored to give the Expos the lead.
Worrell walked Brian Schneider and allowed a two-run single to pinch-hitter Carl Everett to make it 6-3.
Bowa replaced Worrell with Geary to mop up the inning.
Wagner would have to wait to pitch another day.
The Expos had been 0-37 this season when trailing after seven innings before last night.
"It's hard to put a finger on it," Worrell said. "We played a good game. We had it set up the way we wanted it, and then I don't get it done. It's no one area. It's no one thing. It seems like it's something different all the time."
It should be noted that the Phillies also left 13 runners on base. They were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. That inconsistency at the plate has hindered them all season.
Phillies fans were in a much better mood after Thome homered in the fifth. He tied Cy Williams for the most homers in a month in franchise history with 15. Williams hit 15 in May 1923 on the way to his best year in 19 seasons in baseball with 41 homers and 114 RBIs.
Thome could have those numbers by August.
The Phillies also finished the month with 44 homers, the most in franchise history. That could be broken this month.
Phillies starter Paul Abbott allowed two runs, five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. He allowed a leadoff homer to Batista in the second to make it 1-1, and a one-out homer to centerfielder Brad Wilkerson in the fifth as the Expos took a 2-1 lead.
In four starts since the Phillies signed him June 9, Abbott is 0-2 with a 5.03 ERA.
"This team is too good and too deep," Abbott said about trying for his first victory with the Phillies. "It'll happen."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/9051/81928546778.jpg
Jimmy Rollins slides home safely with the Phillies’ first run after a wild pitch by Expos starter Zach Day, who covered the plate on the first-inning play.