Sloppy Defense Leads to Walk-Off Loss

As seen on Phillies Nation.

When Jimmy Rollins failed to make a basket catch in the sixth inning, Jamie Moyer put his hand over his face. It summed up the night for the Phillies. Sloppy defense was the biggest issue in the 7-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Paul Bako opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the second inning. By the third inning, the Phillies led 4-0. In addition, Ryan Howard hit an upper-decker in the fifth inning.

Kyle Kendrick made a spot start for an ailing Pedro Martinez. In four innings, Kendrick allowed three runs (2 earned). Moyer pitched four innings in relief, and gave up two runs. Braden Looper allowed five runs (3 earned) in six innings.

The game was highlighted with four errors, two committed by each team. Raul Ibanez couldn’t keep a ball in front of him. Kendrick made an overthrow. Jayson Werth and Chase Utley miscommunicated on a blooper down the right field line. To top it off, Craig Counsell’s flair bounced off Rollins’ leg, tying the game at five.

The ninth inning must be cursed. Tyler Walker hoped to send the game into extra innings. With a runner on, Walker threw a meatball down the middle of the plate. That’s not something you want to do with Ryan Braun batting. Braun’s walk-off home run cleared the right center field wall.

The bad news doesn’t end. The Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins each won, cutting the division lead to five. The magic number remains at four. Monday is the earliest the Phillies can clinch.

This ball club has been looking lifeless. They need to stop worrying about clinching. Instead, take it game by game and clean up their act. They’ll try to rebound tomorrow with Joe Blanton on the mound.