Jayded Persepctive

Going into this series most assumed a Phillies/Rockies match up would be a slugfest.  Both teams used their strong offense to hit their way into the playoffs and each have an MVP favorite.  This game wasn’t about high scoring offenses.  It was about pitching.  Cole Hamels and Jeff Francis dueled, with Francis coming out on top, as the Rockies beat the Phillies 4-2. 

Aside from one inning, Hamels had a great outing.  After retiring the first three batters he faced, Hamels got into trouble in the second.  He surrendered three hits and walked three more, allowing three runs, giving the Rockies and early 3-0 lead.  After striking out Matt Holliday to end the second, Hamels settled down and retired the next twelve, before handing the ball to Tom Gordon.  Though Hamels rebounded nicely from a rough second, the three runs allowed proved to be too much.

Francis, who was making his first career post-season start, looked like a seasoned veteran.  He opened the game striking out the first four batters, and didn’t give up a hit until Cole Hamels singled off him in the third inning.  Francis kept the Phillies lineup off balance, and was regularly ahead in the count.  In total, Francis pitched six innings allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out eight.

The Phillies offense was never able to get it going.  Outside of the fifth inning when Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell hit back to back home runs, the Phillies were only able to muster two more hits.  The top four hitters in the Phillies lineup (Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard), went a combine 0 for 15 with nine strikeouts.  They were impatient at the plate and chased pitches out of the strike zone.

If the Phillies plan on advancing deeper into the playoffs, the top of the lineup will need to get on base.

The only real offensive chance the Phillies had was in the seventh inning off LaTroy Hawkins.  Greg Dobbs drew a pinch hit walk, and was replaced by Michael Bourn.  Carlos Ruiz was at the plate and drew the count to 1-2.  With an ideal count and the Phillies fastest runner on base I was looking for a hit-and-run.  Ruiz hit a ground ball to second baseman Kaz Matsui.  Unfortunately Bourn didn’t run, instead of Mastui covering second base, he was in perfect fielding position.  What would have been runners on first and third with one out turned into an inning ending double play. 

While winning the first game would have been a boost, I don’t think anyone thought that the Phillies would sweep the Rockies.  It’s going to be a long series.  Kyle Kendrick takes the mound tomorrow for the Phillies as the look to knot the series up at one.