The Phils enter a dangerous Labor Day doubleheader against the free-swinging Florida Marlins with rookie righthander Vance Worley making the start.
The Marlins counter with rookie righthander Adalberto Mendez, who brings a lusty minor league ERA of 4.00 into thet contest.
This looks winnable, but the Phils historically never hit rookies well.
Top 1st:
Rookies typically have to earn respect from MLB umpires, and Worley is no expection. A first pitch ball on a perfect strike at the knees sets up a one-out walk to Logan Morrison.
Worley strikes out Hanley Ramirez, but not before Morrison reaches second on a wild pitch. That miscue proves costly when Dan Uggla fists a sinker into left for an RBI single.
By the way; Raul Ibanez overthrows Polanco as Morrison scores, setting the stage for a Brian Schneider throwing error.
Ibanez is starting to kill this team in left field.
GOING PIGEON PRESENTS: ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A MARLINS ROOKIE?
Let's see how many mental mistakes Phillie hitters can make before Adalberto Mendez reaches 100 pitches!
Bottom 1st: FLA 1 - PHI 0
Mendez has two pitches: a fastball and a change-up, so the Phillie batters shouldn't have to think too terribly hard on this sunny afternoon!
After Placido Polanco popped out to right, Shane Victorino drew a four-pitch walk.
Chase Ultley swings at a well inside 1-0 fastball -1- then swings at a 1-1 fastball aimed at his collarbone -2- then swings at a 1-2 fastball at least a foot inside -3- then strikes out on a fastball HIGH and OUTSIDE -4-
By the way, Utley is one of the Phils smater hitters
With Victorino on second with two outs, Ryan Howard looks fastball with a 2-2 count and flails at a crisp slider from Mendez -5-
Top 2nd: FLA 1 - PHI 0
With the count 1-1, Worley fires a perfect strike at the knees to left-handed third baseman Chad Tracy. But home plate umpire Dale Scott is liking the high strike today so the count becomes 2-1. Not wanting to fall further behind, Worley satisfies Scott's strike zone with a belt-high fastball.
Scott never gets to call strike, but he does get to do that twirley thing with his finger as Tracy circles the bases.
Bottom 2nd: FLA 2 - PHI 0
After Jayson Werth flies out to the fence in left-center, Raul Ibanez looks at a fastball on the outside corner with the count 1-2. -Called strike 3. -6-
Bottom 3rd: FLA 2 - PHI 0
With one out, Placido Polanco jams himself on a high-inside fastball and pops out to second base. -7-
Bottom 4th: FLA 2 - PHI 0
With one out, Ryan Howard lunges outside on a 1-0 fastball and grounds out to 2nd. -8-
With two out, Jayson Werth chases a 2-1 fastball aimed at his hands for strike 2. -9- He then swings through a 92-mph fastball in the Nirto Zone to end the inning. -10-
Bottom 5th: FLA 2 - PHI 0
Raul Ibanez swings first pitch and sends a can of corn to center -11- (He isn't the tying run - he CAN'T be swinging first pitch there; sorry!)
Bottom 6th: FLA 2 - PHI 0
Placido Polanco jams himself on a flat thigh-high fastball down the middle and taps out to Mendez. -12-
Ryan Howard lines up a 91-mph Napalm fastball and sends it opposite field over the fence to tie . . .
Oops, that's what SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Ryan Howard fails to line up a 91-mph Napalm fastball and sends a can of corn fly ball to left to end the inning. -13-
Top 7th: FLA 2 - PHI 0
Adalberto Mendez addis injury to insult by hitting a one-out single to right off Dave Herndon.
The pticher comes up lame as he reaches first base. The Marlins later ruled the injury a mild thigh strain, though I suspect the rookie pulled his abdomen laughing at the two-time defending NL Champions that he's owned the entire afternoon.
Mendez ends the day with 86 pitches and the Phils took 13 ill-advised or flat out FAILED swings against him.
Final score: Marlins 7 - Phillies 1
Final score from Pittsburgh: Pirates 3 - Braves 1
What? I should have been funnier and more insightful?
Well look at it this way. I tried just as hard as the Phils hitters did today.
I am Don Pigeon and I am OUT!!!
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