Folks should be used to the low-scoring games by now, especially when the Phillies are playing the team with the best ERA in the American League. This weekend series with the A's and their terrific young pitching staff was a case in point.
In Friday night's game, Worley and Moscoso went toe to toe, each working on a no-hitter through five. Worley labored to escape the five-and-dive mode he's been in of late, allowing just one hit in six innings. Moscoso went seven, giving up just two hits. The game went scoreless into the bottom of the ninth, when the Phillies finally got to one-time closer Brian Fuentes, who had previously in his career held them to no runs. With two outs and men on second and third, pinch-hitter Ben Francisco chopped a single over the third baseman's head, scoring Victorino for the 1-0 win.
Saturday night it was Cole Hamels vs. Trevor Cahill. The Phillies scored first but the A's eventually got two off of Hamels, who went eight innings. In the ninth, Michael Stutes had his first real glitch of the year, giving up two more to the A's, who went on to win 4-1. In five games this month, Hamels has a 2-2 record and a 1.45 ERA. He has received a total of 13 runs in support. That number is less impressive when you consider that nine of those runs occurred in a 9-1 win over the Marlins.
If the Phillies continue to play as they did Saturday, which is to say flatfooted and lackadaisical, not to mention incapable of hitting breaking balls, they will be doomed.
Today Roy Halladay went again for his 10th win and was not to be denied. The Phillies scored two in the first off former Phillie farmhand Josh Outman (nice to see him pitching well in the majors)and later added a third in a 3-1 victory. Halladay went the distance for his fifth complete game of the season, helping to save a thin bullpen that has now lost its third closer.
