Runners Left on Base Costs Phils

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies didn’t save any leftovers from Monday. The Phillies had a chance to pound 22 runs on the Reds for the second straight night, but twelve runners left on base prevented a repeat.

In the second inning, Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth hit back-to-back home runs, jumping to a 2-0 lead off Aaron Harang. In the third, Chase Utley’s RBI double gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead, and a chance to break the game wide open. However, Harang escaped a bases loaded no-out jam.

J.A Happ was solid. He made two mistakes- two home runs to Brandon Phillips. In seven innings, Happ allowed three runs on six hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out a career high seven batters.

The Phillies had another run scoring opportunity in the eighth inning. With John Mayberry Jr. on third, Jimmy Rollins chopped a ball to the first baseman, Joey Votto. Votto fired home gunning down Mayberry at the plate. After Utley’s third inning RBI double, the Phillies had a runner on third with less than two outs four times. They scored zero.

Tied at three in the ninth, Brad Lidge allowed a lead-off double and found himself in a one-out, two-on, jam. He surrendered the go-ahead single to Ramon Hernandez as the Reds took a 4-3 lead.

The Phillies had plenty of chances to tack on runs. Instead, they left 12 men in scoring position, missing many opportunities.