Bullpen struggles in Phils’ loss to Cards
The ball left Joe Blanton's hand as a 77-m.p.h. curveball. After St. Louis pinch-hitter Nick Stavinoha hit it deep into the left-field stands to put the Cardinals ahead for good in the seventh inning, a fan threw it back onto the field.
The ball left Joe Blanton's hand as a 77-m.p.h. curveball. After St. Louis pinch-hitter Nick Stavinoha hit it deep into the left-field stands to put the Cardinals ahead for good in the seventh inning, a fan threw it back onto the field.
It rolled all the way back to the infield grass and Blanton noticed. He stormed off the mound to grab the ball and angrily flipped it to first baseman Ryan Howard.
In Blanton's first start of the season, a 6-3 Phillies loss on Monday night, it was the one pitch he would regret.
"For the first time out, he threw very good," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
But what happened when Blanton left the game later in the seventh had to concern the fans at Citizens Bank Park even more. The Phillies stretched Blanton, who had thrown 67 pitches in his final rehab start at double-A Reading five days ago, to 94 pitches against the Cardinals.
If that wasn't an indication of how queasy the Phils feel about their bullpen, the next move was: Down by one run, long man and spot starter Nelson Figueroa was called upon to retire Matt Holliday with runners on first and second and two outs.
Predictably, Figueroa struggled. He threw a wild pitch. He walked Holliday intentionally and then gave up a three-run double to St. Louis third baseman David Freese.
"Figueroa pitched good in Phoenix," Manuel said. "He pitched good over in San Francisco. He did a good job. If Figgy would have gotten out of the seventh, we would have used somebody in the eighth."
With Chad Durbin unavailable, having thrown two innings in Sunday's game, and the Phils apparently having little to no confidence in J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge, options are limited in the bullpen.
If there is any positive to take out of Monday's game, it's that Lidge looked improved in a 17-pitch ninth inning. He allowed just a double to Holliday.
"I feel ready but I also know I won't take anything for granted," Lidge said. "I'll be ready to throw whenever they want be to throw. . . . I really felt like it came out of my hand better than it has in a long time."
But by the time Lidge entered in the ninth, the game was decided after Figueroa spoiled Blanton's outing.
Blanton was activated from the disabled list (strained left-side muscle) before the game. He was charged with four earned runs, and two of them were inherited by Figueroa. Blanton allowed 10 hits and walked one in 6 2/3 innings.
Manuel wasn't around to see the ending after being ejected by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher before the sixth inning. The manager was peeved by a double-play call at first base.
He has expressed concern about his bullpen all season. And sitting in his office watching the final four innings Monday, Manuel likely sensed a familiar feeling.
If Lidge can reclaim the closer's role, it could sort out some of the issues the bullpen displayed against the Cardinals.
"That's a big deal, assigning roles," Manuel said. "When you have things organized, you can go through your bullpen and you can line it up where they can pitch three or four days in a row. It makes all the difference in the world."
