Phillies Stung by Rays

               The Phillies lost a close game to the Tampa Bay Rays today by a score of 3-2.  Kyle Kendrick got the start on the mound and surrendered all 3 of the Rays runs on 5 hits, while striking out 3 in four innings pitched.  The Phillies did have a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the third inning before Kendrick surrendered 3 runs in the bottom half of the inning.
David Price started the game for the Rays and surrendered 8 hits in four innings of work, but kept runners stranded and only allowed 2 runs on the day.  After Price exited the game the Phillies could not get anything going and collected only 2 hits over the final 5 innings of the game.  With the exception of Kendrick, the remainder of the Phillies pitching staff looked excellent in the game.  Michael Stutes replaced Kendrick and pitched one perfect inning, collecting 2 strikeouts in the process.  Mike Adams was next to take the mound and also pitched a scoreless inning, while allowing 1 hit.  The final Phillies pitcher, Aaron Cook, threw two innings while allowing no runs on 1 hit and 1 walk.  In the low scoring affair, the Phillies just could not capitalize on their opportunities and managed only 2 runs on the day.
                 Despite only plating 2 runs on the game, a few Phillies had impressive performances on the day.  Kevin Frandsen went 2 for 3 on the day with a solo home run off of David Price in the third inning.  Michael Young had a 2 for 3 day as well, knocking in one run, while Darin Ruf slowly seems to be coming around at the plate with a 1 for 3 day that saw him hit a double.  Once again, Dom Brown continued to be the star of the Phillies lineup in Grapefruit League play.  Brown went 2 for 3 on the day to raise his spring average to .424.  With the Phillies other bright spot this spring, Ryan Howard, receiving the day off, today was the Dom Brown show.  The young outfielder continues to impress and show that he is finally ready to be an everyday starter for the Phillies.  Brown's success helps to ease the pain of Delmon Young who will start the season on the DL, and who pulled an Andrew Bynum and refused to play with any pain, saying that it's still to cold for him to play.  It's baffling that Young thinks Florida is cold after playing for Minnesota and Detroit in the past, and makes one ponder what he will think when he arrives in Philadelphia in April.  The success this spring of Brown though has allowed everyone to overlook Young and his antics, and have hope that he will not be needed much, and that Brown will bear the brunt of the load in the outfield this year.  Brown continues to knock the cover off the ball and get on base at a remarkable pace, and gives a glimpse of all the potential the organization had seen in him in the past.  So far Brown has definitely been the MVP of Grapefruit League play and hopefully will carry this over to the regular season and fill the void in the Phillies outfield that the organization could not in free agency.  Is 2013 the year of Dom Brown?  Will he DOMinate at the plate this season? Only time will tell, but so far so good.  The Phillies are back in action tomorrow at home against the Rays.  Go Phils!