Phillies at losing end as Braves’ Prado homers to secure win (Part 1)
Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t get another victory past the Atlanta Braves, whom they had defeated 5-4 in the first game of the three game set. The Braves secured a 5-3 victory over the Phil’s this time around.
The game was played at Turner Field, Atlanta in front of a crowd of almost thirty-five thousand fans, who filled up more than seventy percent of the venue. Bruce Dreckman was the umpire at home plate while Paul Emmel, Gary Darling and David Rackley were
umpiring at first, second, and, third base, respectively.
The National League East leaders finished off their previous match in dramatic style but their offense failed them this time around. The Phillies and their manager, Charlie Manuel, have been criticized on and off since the season began for only concentrating
on building up their already historical pitching line-up.
Defeats like these serve as a reminder that having a pitching staff of aces is only going to take the team so far, offense has to play a part as well.
Unfortunately, for the Phillies, Shane Victorino, one of their reliable hitters, got injured. Manuel’s despairingly commented, "We've got guys falling like flies".
Fortunately for the Phillies, already lacking offense, it seems that Victorino’s injury won’t be serious enough for a trip to the Disabled List. He departed from the game in the eighth inning with a sore right hamstring and would be miss their next game,
which is the final one and will decide the series winner.
Brandon Beachy, who went up against Cole Hamels in the last Braves-Phillies match, was injured in the first match of the series. He left the game after surrendering a three run homer to Ryan Howard due to an oblique injury. After examinations by doctors,
it is probable that he will be placed on the Disabled List.
In this particular match it was Joe Blanton, who went up against, Jair Jurrjens. This game was Blanton’s second start after returning to the rotation and his first start against the Braves since the season started. Atlanta is hitting .270 against Blanton,
which is better than what they have managed to hit against Cole Hamels. They have accumulated thirty-seven hits in the duration of a hundred and thirty-seven at bats along with twelve extra base hits.
As for Jurrjens, his last start against Philadelphia was on Sunday (May 8, 2011) where he went seven innings and let their offense score only one run in eight hits with only two strikeouts. The Phil’s are batting .320 against Jurrjens in which only two out
of eight hits were for extra bases.
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