Philadelphia Phillies beaten by Los Angeles Dodgers 5-6 at Citizens Bank Park - MLB Update
Starter Kyle Kendrick is unable to block runs as the Philadelphia Phillies lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-6 at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 6, 2012 in third game of the four match series.
A game which was about to bring some solace for the Phillies went out of their hand lately. Desperate to win after failing in number of games, they required something out of the ordinary to happen on Wednesday.
To this effect, the Phillies’ offence appeared determined to turn the fate around and struck-home runs in the game. All was in vain due to a little support from the pitchers.
Five runs Kendrick gave up actually decided outcome of the game into the Dodgers’ favour. In little more than five innings, he struck-out six.
While the game may have been kept on a tie if it was not for the winning run the reliever Jacob Diekman allowed, the Phillies will be ruing the chance that they missed by losing momentum late in the innings.
Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel is hugely concerned over what the bullpen has done to their fate.
Almost in every game, the Phillies saw frailties in their bullpen getting exposed. Longer losing streaks they suffered earlier in the season emanated mainly from late-innings meltdowns by relievers.
"Another one of our guys going down, what more can I say?" Manuel said. "It's kind of bad right now, but we have to show up and try to win a game. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us."
The manager however can draw positives from the way short-stop Jimmy Rollins added two RBIs, in a 1-for-4 outing on plate.
Third-baseman Ty Wigginton was the star performer for the Phillies. In four at-bats, he slammed three hits and two RBIs. As a result, one can say, he is making big strides to reach the kind of form the manager envisaged from him, before start of the season.
Slump has prolonged for the Phillies. Getting rid of the jinx is compulsory if the status quo is to be shaken.
As the Phillies showed fight in the game, they will be taking positive from this and will make sure they convert it into wins in upcoming games.
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