Dontrelle Willis on the mound last night at Coca-Cola Park, looking out of sorts in a Mud Hen uni.
Carlos Carrasco got into a 4th-inning jam owing to some shoddy play behind him.Last night at Coca-Cola Park it was two guys--former phenom Dontrelle Willis and current Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz--on rehab and one, Carlos Carrasco, trying to rebound from a bad start. Carrasco dazzled for three innings, striking out seven and allowing just one hit, a lead-off single in the first. He ran into trouble in the 4th when two infield errors allowed the first two Mud Hens to reach, then seemed to lose his focus, walking two, hitting one, and giving up a single to give the Mud Hens a 3-1 lead. A two-run homer in the 4th ended his night. In all he allowed just two earned runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking two.
It was exciting to see Carrasco working with Carlos Ruiz, finishing his rehab assignment, behind the plate. Good, too, to see Ruiz looking ready for a return to Philadelphia, where he is missed. Dontrelle Willis, however, did not look right in the mud-colored Mud Hen uni. Now less of a contortionist on the mound and less animated, he is also less effective. It was sad to watch him out there. He went five and left the game with a 5-3 lead.
The IronPigs rallied to tie it in the 6th, then went ahead on an unearned run in the 8th to win 6-5 and--hallelujah-- pull within one game of.500.
Jason Donald got his first, long-awaited, start at third and promptly made an error on the first ball hit to him, in the 1st inning. David Newhan, playing shortstop in place of Donald, also made an error; 2nd-baseman Pablo Ozuna made two. To rally from down 5-1, with four errors, showed some spirit. Donald, who has been scuffling at the plate, was in the middle of each rally, going 3 for 4 on the night.
