Lee Pulled Early In Tough Loss Against the Padres
Monday afternoon's Phillies - Padres match-up brought about a disappointing end to a five-game Phils win-streak. A very un-Lee like performance from pitcher Cliff Lee put the Phillies into an early hole from which they could not escape.
Pulled for a pinch hitter after only four innings, Lee had allowed five runs on 10 hits as the Padres pounded him. Not only did Lee not have his good stuff on the mound, he looked slightly disoriented as well. In the second inning, he lackadaisically lobbed a ball to first base, allowing a runner at third to steal home.
While Lee did not have his head screwed on quite right today, the offense tried to battle back for him. But mistakes held them back. After a Shane Victorino double in the first that scored one run, Ryan Howard was sent home to try for two. But going first to home with a slow runner like Howard is usually a very bad idea. Howard was out at home to end the inning.
Victorino had three hits on the day and Raul Ibanez had two with an RBI. But the Phillies squandered many opportunities, like when John Mayberry Jr. singled to start the bottom of the seventh. Jimmy Rollins bounced into a fielder's choice and then got picked off stealing second. Michael Martinez then flied out to end the inning.
The real bummer with this loss is that it ended a nice win-streak and good momentum for the Phillies right as the World Champion Giants come to town. This will be a tough 3-game stretch for the Phils who do not have their top two aces in line to pitch.
Tomorrow, the rookie Vance Worley will have to compete with Giants ace and 2-time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum. It could go either way, but if the Phillies cannot offer Worley some run support, it will be a long night.
Game time is 7:05pm; I will return with photos :O)
Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
