Pitching woes doom Phillies despite Howard’s efforts
Howard homers twice, but pitching falters – Louie Horvath, MLB.com
Moyer, Phils tagged by Cubs to open second half – John Finger, CSNPhilly.com
Cubs rout Phillies 12-6 – Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
Ramirez, Lee lead Cubs to 12-6 win over Phillies – AP report via Examiner.com
The second half of the season started off with a bang, with Phillies first baseman slamming a two run home run out of Wrigley Field’s friendly confines to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead in the first inning. That lead was short lived though as Jamie Moyer allowed six runs over the first three innings and the Phillies could not fight back or stop the bleeding in a 12-6 loss to the Cubs.
It was another off night for Jamie Moyer. AP photo/Nam Y. Huh
The Cubs entered the series with an offense that was sluggish in the first half of the season but they came alive against Moyer, a pitcher who struggled to find his location or control early on. Moyer plunked Tyler Colvin and Marlon Byrd in the first inning and Aramis Ramirez lined a double down the left field line to score both free base runners. The tie was broken in the bottom of the second inning when Starlin Castro successfully stole home on a squeeze play following a triple to center field that traveled over the head of Shane Victorino. With starting pitcher Ryan Dempster at the plate Cubs manager Lou Pinella called for the squeeze. Dempster missed the bunt but the ball got away from Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, allowing Castro to score easily.
The Cubs beat up on Moyer more in the third inning with Derek Lee connecting for a two-run home run to increase the Cubs lead to 5-2. Alfonso Soriano chipped in with one more home run off of Moyer, who recently passed former Phillies pitcher Robin Roberts for the all-time Major League Baseball lead in home runs allowed. It was just one of those bad nights for Moyer. Moyer was charged for five hits and six runs, all of which were earned, in just three full innings. He struck out just one, walked none but hit two batters.
“It’s not a good way to set a tone for the second half, in my opinion,” Moyer said. “And I’ll wear it. It’s my responsibility.” Moyer is right in that this was not the way you want to start the second half of the season, especially on a night when a win would have moved the Phillies in to second place in the NL East (the New York Mets lost to the San Francisco Giants on the west coast).
The bullpen did little to keep the Phillies within striking distance too. The man who took the brunt of the latest bullpen meltdown was Jose Contreras, who was charged for five runs on five hits. Entering the game in the seventh inning with the Phillies trailing 6-2, Contreras struggled to find a third out. After Colvin grounded in to a double play Contreras hit Byrd. This sparked the Cubs as Ramirez hurt the Phillies again with a two-run double, Soriano singled home Ramirez and Geovany Soto homered to cap a five run rally with two outs. The Phillies trailed 11-2 at that point.
Howard hit a second two-run home run to right field to wrap up a four run ninth inning for the Phillies, but the damage had already been done and it was too much to overcome. Manager Charlie Manuel summed it up best, saying after the game “We didn’t play good.”
Truer words were never spoken.
On-deck
The Phillies and Cubs get right back at it this afternoon at Wrigley Field. Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41 ERA) will look to slow down the Cubs in the second game of a four-game series. The Cubs will call on Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08 ERA).
Original Story:
http://machorow.us/2010/07/16/recap-p...
