The Phillies have now lost both series to open the season, after dropping today's game to the Royals by a 9-8 score. The Phillies pitchers continued their early season struggles as the Royals hitters jumped all over them.
Cole Hamels got the start on the mound and struggled even more than in the season opener. Hamels pitched five and two-thirds innings while allowing 8 earned runs on 9 hits and 4 walks. Hamels ERA is now 10.87 on this young season, and he has not looked too good early, although he has struggled in the past in early season starts.
Chad Durbin took over for Hamels and pitched one and one-third scoreless inning before handing things over to Jeremy Horst. Horst pitched one inning and allowed 1 run before Phillippe Aumont finished things off with one scoreless inning.
For the second time this series, the Phillies hitters spotted the pitchers four early runs, only to see the Royals storm back. The Phillies collected 15 total hits on the day, with Ben Revere going 3 for 5. Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins each went 2 for 5 on the day, with Rollins hitting a three-run home run. Michael Young also had a fantastic day at the plate, going 4 for 5 with a run and an RBI.
Entering the bottom of the ninth down 9-4, things seemed all but over for the Phillies. The Phillies, however, decided to make things interesting one night after a walk-off win. Jimmy Rollins cracked three-run home run to bring the Phillies within two. Ryan Howard and Michael Young then got aboard with two outs before Laynce Nix singled home a run to pull the Phillies to within one. After a wild pitch advanced runners to second and third, the Phillies seemed poised to possibly make the comeback complete, but Erik Kratz struck out to end the game.
So after another series loss, and a disappointing loss in which their comeback fell short, the Phillies will look to regroup tomorrow against the Mets. Roy Halladay will start the game for the Phillies as the team looks to get on track.
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