Phillies squander chances in loss to Red Sox

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Shane Victorino does not operate with the benefit of hindsight, which is why he did not see the worthiness of even considering the alternative after the Phillies 7-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox (see instant replay).

An hour earlier, Victorino arrived in the batters box with bases loaded, two outs and the Phillies trailing by two runs in the eighth inning. John Mayberry Jr. had just walked on four pitches, and Red Sox closer Alfredo Aceves had shown spotty command. Still, Victorino did not arrive at the plate thinking of taking a pitch.

I went up there looking for a cutter, to be honest with you, Victorino said. I faced him in spring training, had many at-bats against him, and I went up there looking for a first-pitch cutter. I got the pitch I wanted.

The pitch Victorino wanted was a cut fastball listed at 94-mph that he just missed. Instead of drilling the pitch for an extra base hit, he popped out to the shortstop. The inning ended, the scoring opportunity was thwarted and three runners were stranded. Even knowing the result after the game, Victorino did not regret his decision.

Ill swing at that every single time, Victorino said.

The Phillies left 11 runners on base throughout the loss, which halted a six-game winning streak. They went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position, an indication that hitting was not the problemtimely hitting was the issue.

In some cases, like Victorinos eighth-inning pop out, the at-bat can be questioned. In other cases, such as Ryan Sweeneys highlight-worthy diving catch in centerfield to rob Carlos Ruiz of an extra-base hit with two runners on base in the seventh inning, the Phillies can do little besides tip their cap to the opposing dugout.

A tremendous play, manager Charlie Manuel said.

The Phillies were trying to dig their way out of a hole throughout the game. Joe Blanton, who excelled through the first six weeks of the season, had his worst start of 2012. It opened with a leadoff home run by Mike Aviles and continued with three more home runs before Manuel took Blanton out of the game. Blanton had never allowed four home runs in a game before Saturday.

He lasted only 4 13 innings, giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits. It was his shortest outing of the seasonand could have even been shorter.

Blanton was due up in the bottom of the fourth inning of a 5-2 game, and Manuel planned on pinch-hitting for Blanton. But when Freddy Galvis nailed two-run home run directly before Blantons spot in the order, Manuel reversed course and batted Blanton, paving the way to send his struggling pitcher deeper into the game.

It was still early in the game, Manuel said. I thought he still he had something left. I had confidence that he could go out there and pitch another inning or two.

Manuel was wrong. Dustin Pedroia hit a leadoff single and David Ortiz followed with a deep home run to give the Red Sox a 7-4 lead and a create a deficit too deep for the Phillies to overcome.

I tried to throw a fastball down and away, Blanton said of his pitch to Ortiz. It was down, but it was in the middle.

The loss spoiled a strong outing from both the bullpen and the offense. The Phillies' relief combination of Raul Valdes, Joe Savery and Jose Contreras blanked Boston in 4 23 innings. Every position starter except Ruiz recorded a hit, and Mayberry, Victorino and Hector Luna each had three hits. The performance came against Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, who entered the game with only one earned run in 21 career innings against the Phillies.

The Phillies had eight hits off Lester in six innings, but could not knock him out of the game early. They rallied against former Phillie Vicente Padilla, who coincidentally pitched in Philadelphia on the evening that the club honored his former teammate, Pat Burrell (see story). Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine successfully used Aceves for a four-out save, although the save came with a scare.

Thats why the Phillies offensive night will be remembered as much for the missed opportunities as the laudable performance. In the sixth inning, Placido Polanco grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the seventh inning, Sweeney made the diving catch to cripple the Phillies chances. And in the eighth inning, Victorinos quest to play hero backfired.

If I get a hit, no one is saying anything, Victorino said. Im not going to second-guess and say I shouldnt have swung at that.

E-mail Zach Berman at ZacharyBerman@Gmail.com

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