Phils fail to capitalize on chances in loss to Giants

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SAN FRANCISCOLate in spring training, as he surveyed a team that was without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel made the following declaration:Weve got to get runners in scoring position to score. I dont see too many homers out there.The Phillies got plenty of runners in scoring position Tuesday night11 to be exact. But, alas, they could only get one hit in those situations, and even that hit could have been ruled an error.Poor work in the clutch led to a 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants and the end of a brief two-game winning streak (see Salisbury's Instant Replay).We couldnt get it done, Manuel said. We had chances, but we couldnt deliver.The Giants werent very good with runners in scoring position, either, but they got a pair of runs off Joe Blanton in the first and two more in the fifth and their starter, 22-year-old lefty Madison Bumgarner, made it all stand up with six innings of two-run ball one day after signing a five-year, 35 million contract extension.The kids pretty good, Manuel said. He knows how to pitch. He can bury the ball inside on righties and hit the outside corner. When he had to get us out, he did.The Phils had a couple of golden chances to get to Bumgarner, first in the first inning and later in the sixth. A pair of San Francisco errors gave the Phils a pair of baserunners to open the game, but Jimmy Rollins (0 for 3 with runners in scoring position) grounded into a double play and Hunter Pence popped out to end the threat.In the sixth, the Phils, down by three runs, had the bases loaded with no outs, but could only get a pop out from John Mayberry Jr., a sacrifice fly from Carlos Ruiz and a ground out from Freddy Galvis against Bumgarner.We just didnt get to him, Shane Victorino said. We had him on the ropes a couple of times, but we just didnt get to him. We just didnt get the big hit.Despite allowing 11 hitsincluding a damaging RBI triple to Melky Cabrera, the second batter in the bottom of the firstBlanton kept his club in the game adequately enough for a different outcome had the Phils generated enough offense.Theyre trying, Blanton said of the hitters. We had half the job done. We got guys out there. Weve just got to get them in.But we were facing a good pitcher. You also have to give credit to him.
The second run that Blanton allowed in the fifth inning was avoidable. Buster Posey scored the run on a ground out after stealing third base. Posey was actually a dead duck, but Placido Polanco made a high tag. Polanco and Manuel argued with umpire Marty Foster to no avail.I told Foster the ball beat him, Manuel said. He said he tagged him way late. Thats kind of what it was.Polanco was 0 for 4 on the night and 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position. His batting average has tumbled to .179. One wonders how much longer Manuel can keep him in the No. 2 hole.Hes always fit there when hes healthy, Manuel said. Pollyhe knows he needs to get going.Weve played 11 games now. Our guys know what they have to do. We just havent generated enough offense. Weve got to be more consistent.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.

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