Lidge balked at save, Phillies win in extras 3-2
Posted by Kieran Carobine, Sat, August 28, 2010 08:06 AM | Comments: 58
2010 Game Recaps, Posts
During the 2008 season it seemed Brad Lidge was unstoppable. And he pretty much was. He converted all 41 save opportunities during the regular season as well as seven more in the postseason. Lidge always found ways to get the job done. Now a days he is content on finding ways to blow the save.
Lidge entered the game in the ninth after Roy Oswalt (9-13, 3.12) pitched an incredible game going eight innings and only allowing one run. Oswalt was in line for the win and having only thrown 101 pitches many thought he could have finished off the game. Instead Charlie Manuel brought in his closer. Lidge allowed a lead off single to former Phillie Matt Stairs. He then intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez before hitting Ryan Ludwick with an 0-2 pitch to load the bases. A balk would allow the runner to score from third and send the game into extras. It was Lidge’s fifth blown save in 22 chances.
The way the Phillies have been hitting lately, they were even lucky to have Lidge in a save situation. Coming into last night’s game the Phils had only scored seven runs in their last four games getting swept by the Astros at home. San Diego’s Mat Latos (13-5. 2.29) did a great job keeping the cold streak alive. Latos went seven innings allowing only one run on five hits.
The Phillies eventually would pick up their closer in the 12th inning when Jimmy Rollins scored the winning run on a Placido Polanco single. The box score will say Rollins scored on Polly’s single. What it won’t say is that Padres centerfielder Luis Durango made a perfect throw and Rollins had to adjust his slide going wide to avoid the tag. It was a slide that provoked adjectives like ‘fantastic’ and ‘unbelievable’.
Well whatever you thought it was, it was the game winner for a team that desperately needed a win. This win puts the Phillies only two games back in the NL East and tops in the Wild Card a half game ahead of the Giants.
Worth noting: Rollins was one of the few bright spots with three hits at the top of the lineup. Ryan Howard continues to struggle going 1 for 5 with four strikeouts.
Posts: 0 Brooks
My buddy at work brought that up last year, he just is not seeing the ball. Perhaps he needs specs? I don’t know, how does that logic apply to earlier when he was a legitimate .300 hitter with occasional power.
I think it’s all mental. He is killing himself thinking about the pitches and that leads to the “freeze” as witnessed last night.
Posted: 02:31 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 Kate
I was very heartened to see Jimmy Rollins stepping up, what was it, three out of four times last night? Where Rollins goes, so will the offense, it’ll just take them a couple of days to catch up with him. Don’t worry about Utley, he’ll follow where Jimmy leads… eventually.
As for Howard, I think he’s in a place where he’s trying too hard. He knows he’s better than this and it’s frustrating him. He needs to step back, be willing to take a few more called strikes and WATCH the ball. He knows it.
Despite giving up a run, Lidge nailed the Padres down when he needed to. The Brad Lidge of 2009 would have fallen right over and allowed another four runs before the inning was out. If the O had been doing anything in the past week or two, a tie score would have been nothing to worry about.
A couple of these articles on this site have been as negative as Wheels and McCarthy have been lately. What’s up with that? There are some worrisome things going on, but the way some of the articles are telling it, we might as well pack it in right now.
@Brooks: There’s only one explanation for Chase and Ryan right now. They were brought back from Triple A too soon. Each could have used a few more games to get their swings back, or at least somewhat, and they were rushed right back up. Understandably so, maybe, but it has hurt the team.
We don’t need home runs, we need bases. And we need to get around those bases to home plate. I’d rather see eight guys come up hitting singles and doubles as long as there’s someone on base to capitalize on it. This team clawed its way to second place on small ball.
And I hate to get on the rest of the team, because no one would have thought we’d be in second place without Utley and Howard for a significant part of the season, but they’ve slowed down, putting it all on those two guys. Like I said before the Giants series, this is where they have to start serving notice to the rest of the NL and especially the Braves.
Posted: 03:00 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
You can see how he’s not following the ball with his eyes… he’s not seeing the ball well. But when he starts seeing it better, hold on to your seats!
Posted: 03:01 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 ray
A slight flaw with the ashburn. When a game goes this long people tend to only remember the end of the game. The person who played the best in this game by far, was roy oswalt. Not even close. Great that durbin kept it scoreless and he should be second, but oswalt deserves the ashburn.
Posted: 03:08 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Ryan’s definitely not seeing the ball well right now… it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that. He’s not picking it up; he’s guessing. Prior to his stint on the DL, there was no guessing… the time off definitely affected his focus/timing but he’ll get it.
I commented on the gameday… I don’t post gameday often because I get too frustrated with how quickly people are ready to storm CBP with burning pitchforks BUT it is funny to look back and see the ebb and flow and some of the dumb comments after a game like last night… I get a kick out of it.
Posted: 03:12 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
Reading the Gameday thread is good in the morning while I’m drinking my coffee. Last night’s thread must have been some kind of record with the amount of impulsive comments. Not all were bad and I DO understand the frustration.
Posted: 03:26 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 MikeB.
It is a shame that Oswalt lost victory due to Lidge’s balk but at least the Phils got a win. Got to give Lidge the benefit of the doubt on this one. Takes a while to recover from jet lag from a cross-country flight.
Posted: 08:53 PM on August 28, 2010
Posts: 0 MikeB.
Oswalt should have gotten the Ashburn Award for this game. He pitched masterfully.
Posted: 08:57 PM on August 28, 2010