Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Posted: 10:02 p.m.Updated: 11:57 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
BOX SCORE
A tired starting pitcher, a mistake on the bases, a misplay in the field, and, oh yeah, another offensive slowdown.
All of these conspired against the Phillies in a 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Ultimately, the Phillies lost the game when Ryan Madson, their best reliever this season, threw away a ball in the field and went on to allow three runs in the ninth inning, all coming on Jay Bruces bases-loaded double with two outs.
Madson would have been better served had he not touched Drew Stubbs one-out bunt. Charging third baseman Placido Polanco had a better angle on the ball and was calling for it, but Madson didnt hear him until it was too late. Madson fielded the ball, wheeled and threw it errantly toward first. Had Polanco fielded it, maybe, just maybe, he gets the second out, the inning goes differently and Madsons great run of work this season remains intact.
MLB
I was trying to be aggressive, Madson said. I thought I could get the out.
Madson took the loss in the box score, but there were other reasons the Phils lost this one.
One night after scoring 10 runs, the Phils reverted back to their low-scoring ways. They have scored three or fewer runs in 10 of their last 11 games. With output like that, a team cant make mistakes on the bases, but the Phils did just that when Jimmy Rollins was thrown out at the plate on a single by Chase Utley in the third. Rollins did not get a quick jump at second, but he was still sent by third-base coach Juan Samuel. Rollins was out by a quarter-mile.
Building on Monday nights 10-run explosion, the Phils took a 3-1 lead on Carlos Ruizs RBI double in the fourth inning. That scored Raul Ibanez, who had three hits, an RBI and two runs scored in the game. Ibanez is hitting .435 (20 for 46) with 10 RBIs over his last 13 home games. He has raised his average to .252 and he has five homers and 21 RBIs.
Back in the big-league rotation in place of injured Joe Blanton, Vance Worley could not protect the lead. The 23-year-old righthander opened the fifth inning by allowing a leadoff walk to opposing pitcher Johnny Cueto. Stubbs followed that with a double and Brandon Phillips singled home two to tie the game.
The walk to the pitcher was big, manager Charlie Manuel said. It came back to hurt him.
Worley said he came out a little tired in the fifth inning. He added that he started feeling a little tired at the end of the third inning. Worley has bounced in and out of the rotation for most of May. His last big-league start was May 4. He made two relief appearances after that and just a three-inning start in the minors a week ago. Short outings may have taken a toll on his endurance, and thats understandable. Still, a visit with Roy Halladay might be beneficial for Worley. Halladay would surely have a tip or two about building stamina.
With the five innings tonight and another bullpen session, Ill be better next time, Worley said.
Worley had some very good moments in the game. That fifth inning, for instance, could have been worse if he didnt strike out Bruce for the third out with runners on second and third.
Madson was in a tie game because Manuel will use his closer in those situations at home. Madson had been on a terrific roll, allowing just one run in 19 innings this season and racking up 13 straight scoreless appearances while going 9 for 9 in save chances to win the closers job.
The big question now is: How will Madson bounce back from his only difficult night of the season? Remember, before this season he did not always handle ninth-inning pressure well.
Im already past this, said Madson, who was front and center in front of reporters as soon as the clubhouse opened after the game. Five years ago, Id be hiding somewhere.
It was just one of those nights when I wasnt feeling real good mechanically. I had been on a good wave and you want to stay on it as long as possible. Ill try to start another one tomorrow.
Manuel thinks Madson will have no trouble bouncing back.
Hes throwing the ball well, Manuel said. They just caught a break and took advantage of it.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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