Yet again tonight the Phillies dropped a game to their in-state rivals the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies fell by a final score of 5-3 and will now look to salvage a series split tomorrow in the series finale.
Roy Halladay received the starting nod tonight for the Phillies and continued his slow improvement after a rough start to 2013. Halladay tossed six innings while allowing only 1 run on 1 hit and 2 walks, while also also recording 8 strikeouts.
Despite the bullpen being used in the way fans have been clamoring so much for, things did not work out for the Phillies as the lead was squandered after Halladay's exit. Antonio Bastardo pitched the seventh and allowed one run to bring the game to 3-2 Phillies. Mike Adams came on to pitch the eighth but failed to record an out as he was pulled after allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, while walking 2 batters as well.
Jeremy Horst came on to get the final six outs for the Phillies, but it was too late as they were already trailing 4-3 at this point. Horst allowed a single run in his two innings pitched, to give the Pirates a 5-3 lead, and seal the Phillies loss.
In a slightly positive sign, the Phillies hit their first home runs off a left-handed pitcher in 2013 on the night, as Chase Utley smashed his fourth of the season into the second level, and Ryan Howard hit his second of 2013, as he looks to regain his power. Utley went 2 for 5 on the night as he moved up to the second spot in the order, while Howard went 1 for 4 on the evening.
Kevin Frandsen added an RBI on a pinch-hit single in the sixth, to stretch the Phillies lead to 3-1 after Halladay exited the contest. Unfortunately, on the night the offense finally plated a few runs, the bullpen coughed up the lead. But lets be honest, its not like the offense put up "Murderers Row" Yankees numbers tonight, and they could have done a little bit more to help the bullpen on a rough night.
The Phillies, struggling to play a well-rounded game, head into the series finale tomorrow against the Pirates looking to salvage a split in the series. Cliff Lee will take the mound as he attempts to right the Phillies ship (insert Pirate joke here).
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