pop-up
pop-up, pop-up, pop-up
pop-up
After 8 innings of numbing futility, the Phillies went textbook for a 1-0 win over the Nationals. Pedro Feliz led off the 9th with a double and Carlos Ruiz sacrificed Eric Bruntlett, in to pinch run, to 3rd. (Yes, Feliz is that slow.) Gregg Dobbs, nursing a tight back, then pinch hit for the pitcher and blooped a single to shallow center, scoring Bruntlett. Brad Lidge came in for his 11th save in the 1-0 win. The Phillies averted back-to-back shutouts and ended a 3-game skid. Is this so hard?
Dobbs is 10 for 22 as a pinch hitter, leading the majors with a .455 average, 10 pinch hits, and 9 pinch hit RBI. Cole Hamels was again sterling, going 7 innings and striking out 11. But the Phillies again did nothing against another mediocre starter but pop-up, pop-up, pop-up.
I ended up going back-and-forth with the IronPigs in Buffalo. Trailing 5-2 in the 9th, they came back to tie the game. Then on a great hustle play in the 10th they scratched out an unearned run for the 6-5 lead, held on to beat the Bison, and earned themselves a split of the 4-game series. Meanwhile, in Reading Carlos Carrasco went 7, scattering 4 hits, striking out 9, and walking 2. But the Thunder starter just about matched him in a scoreless pitchers' duel that went 10, when the visitors broke through against reliever Pat Overholt for 3 runs.
As for those suddenly clamoring for the Phillies to trade Victorino, you're nuts. This team needs more speed not less. I'm also starting to think Seth Everett of mlb.com was right when he said the Phillies need another bat more than another arm.
