GAME RECAP: Braves Batter Phillies 9-5
Cameron Maybin finished
a triple shy of the cycle and the Braves provided Alex Wood more than enough support with two four-run
innings against Kevin Correia during
Saturday night's 9-5 win over the Phillies at Turner Field. Kelly Johnson produced a two-run single in the
four-run first and chased Correia with an RBI single in the four-run fourth
inning that also included a Nick Markakis two-run double. The early offensive
support was welcomed by Wood, who was fortunate to allow just four runs while
surrendering 10 hits over six innings. "He had a lot of baserunners, but
he battled," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "He bent a little
bit, but he didn't give in and he kept us right there, and we were able to give
him a little cushion and we end up winning the game." In the process of
winning four straight games, the Braves have produced three four-run innings.
They entered Saturday having scored at least four runs in just three of the
previous 14 games since Freddie Freeman was
sidelined by a right wrist injury. "Early on we had some really good
at-bats against Correia," Gonzalez said. "And that was good to give
[Wood] the lead. And we converted it."
OTHER
NOTES FROM THE DAY:
- Correia got hit hard early and often in 3 1/3 innings of
work. He allowed 10 hits and tied a career high with nine runs allowed. It
was a bad night, but it continues a troubling trend for the Phillies'
rotation. Its starters have pitched fewer than six innings in 14 of the
previous 18 games, which is putting a tremendous strain on the bullpen. "It's
like Groundhog Day for us," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin
said about the rotation's struggles.
- Playing time has been scarce for Darin Ruf. He made
just his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on
June 24. He hit a three-run home run to left field in the fifth inning. It
was his fourth homer of the season. "The home run by Ruf, the
three-run johnson, and he almost hit another one," Mackanin said
about Ruf's flyout to center field in the third. "He swung the bat
pretty well."
- Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez
went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He is hitting
.447 (17-for-38) during the streak.
- "In my position, I'm not even
going there. I'm not going to ask them. That's up to the front office.
They see the same thing we're seeing. I'm sure they're not real crazy
about it either." -- Mackanin, on if he follows the progress of or
asks about Triple-A right-hander Aaron Nola, who seems to be getting
closer to a promotion.
NEXT
GAME:
Left-hander Cole Hamels faces the
Braves in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Turner Field. He pitched well
last week against Milwaukee, allowing five hits, two runs and one walk and
striking out seven in seven innings, but he got little run support in a 4-3
loss. As has been the case this season, every start Hamels makes before the
July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline could be his last with the Phillies, with the
organization looking to trade him to boost its rebuilding efforts. Atlanta will
counter with Shelby Miller, who
stands as one of the candidates to serve as the National League's starter in
this year's All-Star Game. Miller tossed a three-hit shutout against the Phillies
on May 5.
PHILS PHACTS:
Papelbon Endorsed by Skipper – The Phillies entered Saturday on pace for 109 losses, which
means Jonathan Papelbon has
not been a particularly busy closer this season. But when he has pitched, he
has pitched well. Papelbon entered Saturday 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 14 saves in
14 opportunities over 30 appearances. His ERA was 20th out of 130 qualified
relievers in baseball. His 4.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio was tied for 27th and
his 1.04 WHIP was 48th. Those numbers are why Papelbon figures to be the
Phillies' lone representative for the National League All-Star team. "Papelbon,
probably," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said Saturday at Turner
Field, asked for the Phillies' most worthy All-Star choice. "His save
numbers aren't there, but when you look at the other numbers, he's been very
efficient. He's the first guy that comes to mind." The AL and NL All-Star
teams' starters will be announced Sunday, with the pitchers and reserves
announced Monday. "He gets it," Mackanin said of Papelbon's lack of
work this season. "He wants to get 45, 50 saves if he can, but he's been
great. He's been asked to pitch in losing situations to get some work. The
other day we double-switched to keep him in the game because we needed it. No
problem. He's always ready. I know he's got his issues, but at the same time
when he goes out there, he competes well and he knows what he's doing. You
can't ask for more. ... Well, you can ask for more than that, but he's been
fine."
Troubling Trend – Something has to give and that something could put Triple-A
right-hander Aaron Nola in the big leagues before the end of the month. Phillies
right-hander Kevin Correia allowed
10 hits and nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings Saturday night in a 9-5
loss to the Braves at Turner Field. It was the
14th time in the past 18 games a Phillies starter had not pitched six innings.
Phillies starters have pitched six or more innings just 42 times in 83 games
(50.6 percent) this season. Compare that to the 2011 rotation, which pitched
six or more innings 128 times in 162 games (79.0 percent). "We were on the
bench talking about it," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said.
"It gets more difficult as we go along because by the time we get to the
middle or end of August these guys [the relievers] hopefully are not going to
be used up. A lot of appearances. A lot of innings. A lot of pitches thrown.
Something's got to give. We've got to get length out of our starters. At least
two or three of them." The Phillies rotation entered Saturday averaging
the third-fewest innings per game (5.59 innings per start) in baseball, which
has put a tremendous strain on the bullpen. "Since I got here, that's the
thing I think about most, how to keep pitchers healthy and not overdoing
it," Mackanin said. Cole Hamels, who
pitches the series finale Sunday afternoon, has been the only consistently
reliable starter of the group, and he could be traded before the end of the
month. Sean O'Sullivan pitches
Monday in Los Angeles. He has pitched six-plus innings in just five of 12
starts. Chad Billingsley, who
pitches Tuesday, has pitched more than five innings just once in four starts. Correia
has not reached six innings in five starts. "That's the most frustrating
part," Correia said. "I can deal with getting hit around. I can deal
with pretty much anything. But I want to be out there as long as possible, and
that's just not happening right now." What are the options? Well, Aaron Harang is on the disabled list with plantar
fasciitis. Jerome Williams is on
the DL, but he carried a 6.43 ERA and pitched six-plus innings in just five of
14 starts. Nola is the best and most logical choice. He allowed nine hits,
three runs and struck out six in six innings Saturday night against Rochester.
He has a 2.28 ERA in four starts with the IronPigs. The Phillies are mindful of
his innings pitched, considering he has not pitched to this extent in the past.
They also do not want to rush their
prized prospect, but the time for his promotion
is drawing near, regardless of when or if Hamels is traded. "In my position,
I'm not even going there," Mackanin said about Nola. "I'm not going
to ask them. That's up to the front office. They see the same thing we're
seeing. I'm sure they're not real crazy about it either." Another option
is David Buchanan, who rejoined the Triple-A rotation Thursday after being on
the DL with an ankle injury. He allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings in his first
start back.
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the
NL east at 27-56. Given the departures, aging stars,
injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the
worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 55-54-0 on
this day.
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