Philadelphia Phillies face 2-6 defeat against Colorado Rockies as Cliff Lee struggles - MLB Update
Starting pitcher Cliff Lee fails again as he costs the Philadelphia Phillies a 2-6 defeat against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Denver, Colorado in the first game of the three match series on July 13, 2012.
It seems that the things are going to grow worse before they get any better for Philadelphia.
Already at the lowest position on the Division table, the Phillies are unable to get rid of the malaise of losing streaks.
Even against a relatively weaker opposition like the Rockies, they have struggled to accumulate sufficient number of runs. Throughout the game on Friday, their offence did give any glimpse that they are ever going to threaten the Rockies.
While both sides started slowly, late in the innings Rockies enjoyed a run-rampage, which led to their victory. Capitalising on the Phillies’ inability to accumulate runs at the start, they added two runs in the sixth and broke the tie.
As soon as the Rockies surged to a lead, they strengthened it further with three more runs in the seventh.
Meanwhile, the Phillies remained quiet, with most of their batters failing to take the base-runners aboard.
Furthermore, the game was another reflection of horrible frailties in the Phillies' bullpen. By the time their starter Cliff Lee left the mound, Michael Schwimer came as a reliever. Unable to block the run-leakage, he allowed three runs in little less than
one inning.
Phillies will be extremely disappointed with the fact that their starter Lee is not becoming the kind of force that he is supposed to be. Lee is currently the most expensive player on their roster, but so far in the season he has struggled to justify the
mammoth salary he earns. It is the second half of the season and yet Lee has won only one game for the club.
On Friday, he threw six innings and allowed nine hits.
Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel cannot understand why Lee is struggling to bring wins for the club.
"I shake my head because I look out there and see Lee pitching. I can't believe we can't win some games with him pitching. We got outplayed," Manuel said.
Time is running short for the Phillies to decide what they are going to do as the trade deadline approaches. If they keep losing games in the next couple of weeks, one can brace for important changes taking place in the club.
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