GaryMrMets
07-07-2004, 07:39 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9095018.htm
Posted on Wed, Jul. 07, 2004
Phils' Bats Falter
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
It looks to be an interesting summer in the National League East.
The Phillies lost last night to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park, 4-1. The Mets' victory, along with Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves victories, means three teams are within 21/2 games of the first-place Phils in the NL East.
"I said that in spring training," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said after the game. "I think it's living up to that."
The Phillies managed just five hits against the Mets, and just three off lefthander Al Leiter.
"There's a reason why he has the best ERA [2.05] in baseball right now," Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf said. "He knows how to pitch. He seems to really get into jams, and that's when he makes his best pitches. He really works off the hitter's aggressiveness."
Perfect example: The Phillies had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth inning - Jim Thome singled, Pat Burrell walked, and David Bell reached first when a pitch hit him on his foot - but Mike Lieberthal flied out to center and Tomas Perez popped out to shortstop.
"He was tough," Phillies second baseman Placido Polanco said of Leiter (5-2). "He was very good."
Wolf (3-4), making his third start since his return from the disabled list, needed to be nearly perfect to have a chance to beat Leiter. He wasn't. In 4 2/3 innings, he allowed nine hits and three runs. He walked three and struck out four.
It was another short outing for a Phillies starter.
"I just didn't really conserve any pitches," said Wolf, who threw 111 pitches.
Since Brian Powell threw seven innings in a victory over Kansas City on June 20, the Phillies have had just one starter throw seven innings: Wolf in a victory Thursday over Montreal.
Since then, Brett Myers threw just three innings in a 16-inning loss Friday to Baltimore, Kevin Millwood threw 6 1/3 on Saturday, Eric Milton threw six on Sunday, and Paul Abbott threw 4 2/3 on Monday.
"That's the goal for us," Wolf said of the starters staying in the game longer. "It's to go out there and really go deep in the game, and try to give the bullpen the least amount of work as possible. We haven't done that lately, and it's something we want to do better. And that's simply because I didn't do my job today. We're making it tough on them, so hopefully we can turn it around and give them a rest."
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when shortstop Kaz Matsui hit a one-out double to right and rightfielder Richard Hidalgo hit a two-out triple down the left-field line to score Matsui.
The Phillies, who lead the National League with 27 come-from-behind victories, tied it with a run in the third. Lieberthal hit a leadoff single to left and Perez doubled to put runners on second and third. Wolf then hit a grounder to second, which allowed Lieberthal enough to time to score.
But the Mets scored twice in the fifth to put the game away.
Matsui hit a leadoff single and Mike Piazza followed with a flare to center field that dropped for a hit. Matsui was headed to third all the way, and reached it with no problem.
Hidalgo singled to left to score Matsui. Piazza was thrown out at third and Hidalgo reached second. Cliff Floyd singled to right, the fourth straight single in the inning. Hidalgo had slowed at third with Bobby Abreu getting hold of the ball. But when Abreu reared back to throw, the ball came loose and Hidalgo scored.
"We had a couple opportunities [to score]," Bowa said.
In the eighth, Mets reliever Ricky Bottalico issued a leadoff walk to Polanco. Lefthander Mike Stanton walked Abreu with one out to put runners on second and first before Thome flied out to left and Burrell flied out to center. The Phillies had two hits in the ninth, but Braden Looper worked out of the jam to pick up his 17th save.
The Phillies' offense had been better than that lately.
They finished the first half of the season last night tied for the National League lead in runs. Nobody had hit more homers. They were second in on-base percentage.
They had hit .313 and scored a National League-leading 54 runs in the last week.
But Leiter messed with all that.
"Sometimes you have to give credit to the pitcher," Bowa said.
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/9093/82685457737.jpg
The Mets’ Richard Hidalgo beats the tag of Phillies third baseman David Bell after he hit an RBI triple in the third inning.
Posted on Wed, Jul. 07, 2004
Phils' Bats Falter
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
It looks to be an interesting summer in the National League East.
The Phillies lost last night to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park, 4-1. The Mets' victory, along with Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves victories, means three teams are within 21/2 games of the first-place Phils in the NL East.
"I said that in spring training," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said after the game. "I think it's living up to that."
The Phillies managed just five hits against the Mets, and just three off lefthander Al Leiter.
"There's a reason why he has the best ERA [2.05] in baseball right now," Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf said. "He knows how to pitch. He seems to really get into jams, and that's when he makes his best pitches. He really works off the hitter's aggressiveness."
Perfect example: The Phillies had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth inning - Jim Thome singled, Pat Burrell walked, and David Bell reached first when a pitch hit him on his foot - but Mike Lieberthal flied out to center and Tomas Perez popped out to shortstop.
"He was tough," Phillies second baseman Placido Polanco said of Leiter (5-2). "He was very good."
Wolf (3-4), making his third start since his return from the disabled list, needed to be nearly perfect to have a chance to beat Leiter. He wasn't. In 4 2/3 innings, he allowed nine hits and three runs. He walked three and struck out four.
It was another short outing for a Phillies starter.
"I just didn't really conserve any pitches," said Wolf, who threw 111 pitches.
Since Brian Powell threw seven innings in a victory over Kansas City on June 20, the Phillies have had just one starter throw seven innings: Wolf in a victory Thursday over Montreal.
Since then, Brett Myers threw just three innings in a 16-inning loss Friday to Baltimore, Kevin Millwood threw 6 1/3 on Saturday, Eric Milton threw six on Sunday, and Paul Abbott threw 4 2/3 on Monday.
"That's the goal for us," Wolf said of the starters staying in the game longer. "It's to go out there and really go deep in the game, and try to give the bullpen the least amount of work as possible. We haven't done that lately, and it's something we want to do better. And that's simply because I didn't do my job today. We're making it tough on them, so hopefully we can turn it around and give them a rest."
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when shortstop Kaz Matsui hit a one-out double to right and rightfielder Richard Hidalgo hit a two-out triple down the left-field line to score Matsui.
The Phillies, who lead the National League with 27 come-from-behind victories, tied it with a run in the third. Lieberthal hit a leadoff single to left and Perez doubled to put runners on second and third. Wolf then hit a grounder to second, which allowed Lieberthal enough to time to score.
But the Mets scored twice in the fifth to put the game away.
Matsui hit a leadoff single and Mike Piazza followed with a flare to center field that dropped for a hit. Matsui was headed to third all the way, and reached it with no problem.
Hidalgo singled to left to score Matsui. Piazza was thrown out at third and Hidalgo reached second. Cliff Floyd singled to right, the fourth straight single in the inning. Hidalgo had slowed at third with Bobby Abreu getting hold of the ball. But when Abreu reared back to throw, the ball came loose and Hidalgo scored.
"We had a couple opportunities [to score]," Bowa said.
In the eighth, Mets reliever Ricky Bottalico issued a leadoff walk to Polanco. Lefthander Mike Stanton walked Abreu with one out to put runners on second and first before Thome flied out to left and Burrell flied out to center. The Phillies had two hits in the ninth, but Braden Looper worked out of the jam to pick up his 17th save.
The Phillies' offense had been better than that lately.
They finished the first half of the season last night tied for the National League lead in runs. Nobody had hit more homers. They were second in on-base percentage.
They had hit .313 and scored a National League-leading 54 runs in the last week.
But Leiter messed with all that.
"Sometimes you have to give credit to the pitcher," Bowa said.
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/9093/82685457737.jpg
The Mets’ Richard Hidalgo beats the tag of Phillies third baseman David Bell after he hit an RBI triple in the third inning.