Phillies Notebook: Phillies' bullpen fails again
In the ninth inning, Luis Garcia walks three and Justin De Fratus allows a three-run homer as the Cubs prevail, 5-2.
IT WAS THE KIND of outcome that has typified this Phillies season.
Despite seven strong innings from Cole Hamels and a game-tying, pinch-hit single from Chase Utley, the Phillies dropped a 5-2 decision to the Cubs last night as their beleaguered bullpen allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning.
On a day when Utley and his longtime employer agreed to a multiyear contract extension, the fans at Citizens Bank Park were reminded of the litany of holes that must be filled around the second baseman. That starts with the bullpen and its league-worst 4.31 ERA.
With the Phillies trying to stay away from closer Jonathan Papelbon after his extended outing on Tuesday night, Charlie Manuel called on journeyman Luis Garcia, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning but unraveled in the ninth. Garcia walked three batters before he was replaced by Justin De Fratus, who ended up surrendering a three-run homer to Donnie Murphy that busted the game open.
"We've got guys in that bullpen who are going to be good," Manuel said of his young relief corps, "but we don't know who they are right now."
Those young relievers would be aided by an offense that is able to score more than one run in its first six innings against Cubs lefty Travis Wood. That would enable Hamels to remain in games like the one he vacated for Utley's pinch-hit at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. At the time of his departure, Hamels had thrown just 82 pitches, holding the Cubs to two runs.
The Phillies are 51-62 and in fourth place in the National League East.
Asche impressing
Cody Asche has been with the Phillies for less than 2 weeks, but he has already made it clear that any failure to remain in the major leagues will not be due to a lack of effort.
Every day, Asche is on the field working well before the Phillies are due to report, taking extra batting practice, fielding ground balls. It's a habit that Charlie Manuel took note of during spring training, when the young third baseman spent a few weeks with the club.
"He's a worker," Manuel said. "He loves the game. He's got a little spit and fire in him. He's a mentally tough kid. He takes his work seriously."
Last night, Manuel opted against letting the rookie face tough Cubs lefty Travis Wood, instead starting Michael Young at third base. Asche struck out 31 times in 116 at-bats against lefties at Triple A this season, posting a .259/.306/.362 line (compared with .299/.360/.513 and 68 strikeouts in 308 at-bats against righties). Asche, 23, was coming off his best game of the year, a 2-for-3 performance that included a double off Cubs righty Edwin Jackson. That snapped a 1-for-17 start to his career.
Nationals on deck
Kyle Kendrick and the Phillies are scheduled to face righty Stephen Strasburg on Sunday, the last of a three-game series in Washington against the struggling Nationals.
Tomorrow, John Lannan is slated to face righty Dan Haren, while Cliff Lee will oppose 24-year-old righty Taylor Jordan on Saturday. Jordan is filling in for injured lefty Ross Detwiler, who could miss the rest of the season with a herniated disk that has sidelined him since July 4. The Phillies have won six of 10 games against the Nationals this year.
Navarro negative
The seventh inning featured a brutal collision at home plate between Chase Utley and Cubs catcher Dioner Navarro. The catcher held onto the ball while blocking the plate to record an out but did so at the expense of his right leg, which bent back beneath his body as his chest absorbed Utley's shoulder. Navarro was carted off the field, but X-rays revealed no fracture in his ankle.
Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese
