Friday, August 24, 2012

Instant analysis: Phillies 4, Nats 2

Associated Press photo
Edwin Jackson allowed three runs over six innings.
Game in a nutshell: The Phillies don't have much left to play for except pride, but they showed plenty of that in the opener of this three-game series before a crowd of 42,096 that barely made a peep all night. Veterans Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins drove in three early runs off Edwin Jackson, putting the Nationals in a 3-0 hole. They couldn't make a dent into Kyle Kendrick for most of the evening until Tyler Moore came off the bench in the seventh to drill a two-run homer and knock the right-hander from the game. The Nationals had chances to push across the tying run against a smorgasbord of Philadelphia relievers but couldn't deliver the big hit when they needed it. Perhaps it would have been a different story had they not lost cleanup hitter Michael Morse to a right hand injury (he was struck by a Kendrick fastball in the top of the first) that looked serious but was initially diagnosed as only a contusion.

Hitting lowlight: Remember when Adam LaRoche couldn't be contained inside the ballpark? That was only two weeks ago, but it feels much longer. LaRoche is now hitting .164 with zero homers over his last 17 games. Worse, he's failing to deliver in clutch spots the way he had been earlier in the season. He went 0-for-4 tonight, each time failing to advance a runner that was in scoring position when he came up to bat. If Morse winds up having to miss any time with his hand injury, LaRoche is going to have to step up and produce the way he has through most of the year.

Pitching highlight/lowlight: On one hand, Jackson really labored through his outing. He gave up seven hits and two walks, racking up 107 pitches in only six innings, and seemed to be trying to pitch his way out of trouble just about the entire night. On the other hand, the right-hander emerged having allowed only three runs. He was perhaps helped by a few well-struck balls that happened to be hit directly at his teammates. But he also made a few big pitches when he really needed to, especially when he struck out Ryan Howard and got Domonic Brown to ground into a double play to end a potentially disastrous first inning. Jackson expects more of himself, and the Nationals could have used more tonight, but give him credit for at least keeping this thing within reach and giving his teammates a chance.

Key stat: Jackson's ERA in the first inning this season is 7.50. His ERA in every other inning is 3.62.

Up next: The series continues tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. when Gio Gonzalez seeks his league-leading 17th win against two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

31 comments:

peric said...

You wanted to know what silent bell was? There you have it except tonight they rang it after the last pitch because they handily beat the Nats.

ehay2k said...

Instant Pennant Race Analysis:

Go Giants! (SF Giants, that is.)

peric said...

that was only two weeks ago, but it feels much longer. LaRoche is now hitting .164 with zero homers over his last 17 games.

Which is why we still might see Rendon in early September.

Secret wasian man said...

Another flat effort from the nats. No excuse to lay down for a team going nowhere. Who cares if you beat the braves if your gonna sit possum for the Phil's. Very disheartening.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Charlie managing like Game 7 of the World Series. Nats had their chances .

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Nats now 0-3 after a team outing.

baseballswami said...

The offense is ice-bergian. Nothing at all from the ones we expect it from. Morse and Desi injured. Hang on until Sept. 1st. Have you ever heard CBP so quiet, though. Eerie.

John C. said...

The offensive lowlight of the night was clearly Danny getting thrown out stealing in the 9th inning. That was a full-on Nyjer; staggeringly, mind numbingly DUMB. His run meant nothing at all. Being on base meant the batter at the plate was the tying run. AND Papelbon is hard to run on, with a right handed hitter in the box (so the right handed catcher doesn't even have to worry about throwing past the batter).

That is "sit down for a game, Danny" dumb. If Desmond is healthy enough to play tomorrow, Danny should sit and Lombo get a start.

peric said...

Have you ever heard CBP so quiet, though. Eerie.

Thus, the Silent bell, but it rang tonight ... unfortunately.

mick said...

I am OK with losing as long as players give a 100% and are put in the best situation to succeed. I feel Davey now has had two not very good games ina row as a manager, two night's ago not pitching Storen in 2-1 game in 9th and tonight sending Espi was just mind boggling. One could hear the frustration in FP's voice with that call.

Adam, Zim and Werth cannot go 0-11 verse a 7-9 pitcher with an ERA over 4.00

ExposedinDC said...

Was a little worried about this series, possible letdown,Phil's play us tough, facing Halliday and Lee....hopefully Gio gives us an A plus effort worthy of a guy who probably will start a game one for us...hoping the beast is ok

mick said...

2-2 Braves Giants in 3rd

m20832 said...

Ok, they had their suck game of the series. Made a 7-9 pitcher look like Cy Young. Not thinking baseball IQ (Espinosa). And had a day off yesterday. That's baseball for you.
Gio tomorrow and get Morse back up. 47-23 with him in there!
GYFNG!!!

m20832 said...

Go Giants!

Nick Rodriguez said...

Peric, after watching Rendon play a few times as a Harrisurg Senator, I can't agree with you . Just not ready.

mick said...

question to pose.... should Ejac pitch in post season?

ExposedinDC said...

He has too...you are going to need at least 4, cant see anyone not in the rotation jumping ahead of him

mick said...

Exposed... your probably right

peric said...

Peric, after watching Rendon play a few times as a Harrisurg Senator, I can't agree with you . Just not ready.

I suspect Davey is going to want to look at him to gauge how far away he is for next season. That is one of Davey's "guiding principles"' to leave a better roster for the next manager (whether its him or not) than what he started out with.

And given that Rendon JUST started playing? That he is in essence still in Spring Training? How can anyone judge where he's at until he gets into baseball shape.

mick said...

peric I think Rendon will be a stronger version of Lombo... am i right?

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Surely, EJax will be a postseason starter. He's part of the reason we're on top. He hasn't missed a start all season, a battler even when he doesn't have his best stuff, doesn't ever get much run support, he's a horse. He's part of the best staff in baseball, and an integral part. Fact he was in the bullpen warming up in the 13th inning the other night when he pitched two nights before tells me everything this guy is about. He's our No. 3 in the postseason.

mick said...

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me

I agree with all your points, which are very good.. my question comes from the standpoint of, can a team in post season afford to have a pitcher who gives up early runs?

mick said...

Giants up 3-2!

mick said...

make that 4-2!

peric said...

Chien-Ming Wang sure as heck can't be a post-season starter. There's some potential in Ryan Perry ... perhaps a ceiling as high as a top 3 starter. But he's just started starting after relieving his entire professional career with the Tigers. Not sure he's ready. Yunesky Maya? #5 at best if the Nats get lucky. Doubtless a Syracuse starter next year again. Lannan? He isn't better than EJax.

So, you're down to EJax.

That's why I keep typing that the bullpen, having the right relievers is far more important to this team. Getting Storen going. Perhaps getting Henry going? Seeing how Christian Garcia handles major league pitching ... that's what's important for the playoffs ... that and the end of the inconsistent offense that goes from hot-to-cold but seems like mostly cold. Unfortunate side effect of fielding a very young, even if extremely talented, team.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

@Mick: Obviously it would be best if EJax doesn't fall behind early. Lots of veteran pitchers are like that -- check out our success against Hudson this year early. The good ones made adjustments and carry on. EJax is in that category. I'm totally in the tank for the guy. I think he's got close to No. 1 stuff, if not the record. But he gives us a chance to win on most nights. All you can ask.

mick said...

peric... I am sure I'm not alone.... I really do not want to see Henry until 2013 Spring training, lol

mick said...

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me

as I said... you are probably correct

peric said...

peric... I am sure I'm not alone.... I really do not want to see Henry until 2013 Spring training, lol

That's why they will more than likely take a good, long hard look at Christian Garcia a dual Tommy John's surgery former Yankee's starter the Nats turned into a reliever.

You can't just rely on one guy as we saw at the beginning of the season when Storen went down. Lidge was terrible. Suddenly its Clippard, Mattheus, Burnett and Henry and they tried various combinations some worked others didn't ... but ... they had other options.

Steady Eddie said...

Giants win again , lead remains 6.5 games, and we're one more game closer to the end of the season.

Anna Peregrina said...

Someone should say something nice about Bryce. Couple of doubles. Keep it up, Bryce, get well, Mike and Desi!

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