Philadelphia Phillies lose to St. Louis Cardinals 3-8 as Roy Halladay leaks runs – MLB Update
Roy Halladay’s misery continues as starter and the Philadelphia Phillies are routed 3-8 by the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri on May 27, 2012 in fourth game of the four match series.
Being scratched just after two innings is uncharacteristic of Halladay. Giving up four runs, including a home-run in just two innings signals the decline that Halladay is going through at the moment.
He left the ballpark due to shoulder soreness, aggravating the Phillies’ injury woes in the season.
Halladay was to spearhead the attack and help the Phillies defend their Division Championship, in last five years in National League East Division. Instead, he is becoming a burden on the bullpen.
As soon as he got off the mound, relievers came and as was expected, the Cardinals further substantiated their lead. Relief pitcher Joe Savery, who had to throw two innings, conceded two runs.
Similar was the case with another reliever Chad Qualls. Following every two innings, the Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel was removing one pitcher and replacing with another.
He was hoping to restrict the Cardinals, so that the Phillies’ batters have little difficulty in reaching past the lead.
As things did not pan out the way he will have liked, the Cardinals took their lead to an unassailable level.
Rich Dubee, the Phillies’ pitching coach, talked of ailing Halladay. His shoulder was already not supporting his revolutions well and therefore, what happened with Halladay was no surprise to him.
"I know he's had a cranky shoulder and he hasn't looked right, and didn't look right today," Dubee said. "And I knew he wasn't going to come out of the game, so I basically said 'That's enough.'"
Phillies’ manager was hugely concerned with the absence of Halladay. Thinking that the pitchers are a building block for success, the Phillies are going to suffer one way or the other, he said.
"Worried? Yeah, definitely, I'm concerned," Manuel said. "Pitching is one of the big things on our club and when guys miss a turn, it concerns me."
Such an overwhelming defeat is going to wreak a demoralising effect on the Phillies. Morale of their relievers will be low. In this respect, the manager will ascertain the players stay focused and keep putting up improved performances.
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