Following a spectacular outing on Thursday by Cole Hamels, who went eight and fanned 10, the Phillies left for Atlanta and the start of a 10-day road trip. It was good and bad in Atlanta. The Phillies took two of three, pretty much ending the Braves' hopes for the play-offs, but had to rely heavily on their tattered bullpen to do it.
J.A. Happ started Friday night, allowed one run, and was pulled after three when he grimaced on a play to first. Kyle Kendrick came in, pitched four scoreless, and picked up the win in a 9-4 victory. Pedro Martinez started Saturday, got hit, and left after three with a stiff neck. Javier Vazquez meanwhile nullified the Phillies, who got on the board in the 9th with four runs but were turned away with the go-ahead run at the plate. The Braves took it 6-4. Cliff Lee started on Sunday and looked great but a rain delay of an hour and 51 minutes ended his day after four innings. Despite a somewhat shaky 9th by Lidge, the Phillies won the game 4-2.
It all comes down to the bullpen. Lidge is iffy, Romero, Eyre, and Park are out, and now Brett Myers is on his way for a doctor's exam. It may work for the rest of the season but likely spells post-season disaster. Not quite time to start burning candles but getting close.
