Freese, Cardinals Force Game 5 with Phillies
Posted by Pat Gallen, Wed, October 05, 2011 08:49 PM | Comments: 40
Analysis, News, Opinion, Posts
—Busch Stadium, St. Louis
David Freese was struggling. Going into his fourth inning at bat against Roy Oswalt, he was 2-for-13 with seven strikeouts in the series; one of those compliments of Oswalt. Just like that, the series changed for both Freese and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Freese’s sixth inning, two-run home run to center field helped extend the series, as the Cardinals won 5-3 on Wednesday night. Game 5 will be back in Philadelphia on Friday night.
PHOTO AP
Once again, the Phillies struck early, but not often. Jimmy Rollins led off with a ground-rule double to center field, followed by a Chase Utley triple to score Rollins. Hunter Pence than plated Utley on a single.
It could have been a more fruitful inning if not for two questionable calls by both the home plate and second base umpires. Pence was thrown out trying to steal second and Ryan Howard struck out looking. Replays showed Pence was safe and that Howard’s pitch was a borderline strike.
Charlie Manuel saw that as an opportunity to break the game open.
“I kind of wanted to push the game there, too, because we had just scored and we needed a guy in scoring position.”
The Cardinals cut into the lead with a run in the bottom half of the inning as Skip Schumaker scored on a double by Lance Berkman. Berkman advanced to third on an error by Shane Victorino, who clearly slipped on the outfield shadows (!) and made a backwards throw. Berkman would stay at third after Matt Holliday grounded out to shortstop.
Oswalt had an up and down evening. In the fourth inning, St. Louis struck for two to take a 3-2 lead. Oswalt walked Berkman to start, then hit Holliday in the arm to put two on. Pence then made a spectacular grab in right on a well-hit ball by Yadier Molina. Pence took an odd route, but saved some runs…until Freese knocked in two with a double to left field.
Freese then pushed the Cardinals lead to three with his monster blast in the sixth.
The Phillies got one in the eighth on a Fernando Salas wild pitch to make it 5-3 – that scored Michael Martinez, into pinch-run for Ross Gload who singled to start it. But with Chase Utley on second base, Ryan Howard struck out for the third time to end the rally.
In the fifth inning, the pesky squirrel from Game 3 returned and actually ran through the batters box during a pitch from Oswalt to Schumaker. They needed the speed of the squirrel the next inning, when Utley made a baserunning mistake.
On a ground ball to second base off the bat of Pence, Utley attempted to take third base as well, but Albert Pujols came off the base and threw a strike to third to get Utley by several feet. Instead of a runner at second base with one out, the man in scoring position was gone, and gone were the chances of cashing in. Howard would fly out, followed by a Victorino ground out to end the inning.
Howard struggled yet again, going 0-for-4 with three more strikeouts. Over the last three games, the middle of the order, which has been in a freefall lately, combined to go 3-for-36 with 12 strikeouts and only two RBIs.
Howard is struggling through a 1-for-12 with six K’s, Victorino a 1-for-12, and the combination of Raul Ibanez and John Mayberry a 1-for-12 with six strikeouts.
Manuel didn’t rule out a possible lineup change before Game 5. “I’m never committed to the lineup because I’m not afraid of changing it. But when you don’t hit, you get back and you look for things that you think can help you, give you an advantage of winning a game.”
The Phillies skipper might need to do something, or else the season filled with promise could be over far too soon.
Luckily for him, he’ll have Roy Halladay on the mound in Game 5, his ace that helped him win Game 1 with a shutdown performance after a rocky first inning. Roy will need to come up big and save his fledgling offense once again, something that has become commonplace with this team.
Posts: 0 Ryan H
we’re gonna smoke em in game 5. I ain’t even slightly nervous about it. we got it set up exactly how we want.
Posted: 09:08 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 charlie
you can stick a fork in the phils. halladay is big time and will pitch well but with our offense, he will have to be near perfect and he has not been that way in a long time. HOWARD BLOWS and the Cards know he is a big fat out in the 4 spot in our lineup. I look to a choke in game 5
Posted: 09:11 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
that’s because you’re a moron.
albert pujols wen’t 0-4 tonight. I guess he stinks too.
Posted: 09:15 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 74 Tom
I have respect for the Cards and what they have accomplished this season…it’s a shame that they have morons fans like you!!
Posted: 09:26 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 344 Morris Buttermaker
Dear Phillies,
Please do not jump out to an early lead on Friday.
Thanks.
Posted: 09:16 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
Ryan H….respectfully, we do NOT have it “set up exactly how we want”. Ok. Say we win Friday. Great….except that now we can’t set up our rotation like we want with Doc in a Game 1 at home. Sorry. I appreciate your optimism but the plan is flawed.
Posted: 09:22 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
how exactly could the situation favor the phillies any more? you got the best pitcher in baseball pitching at home. how exactly could you have it any better?
Posted: 09:39 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
oh well ok i see what ya mean chuck. but I’m not even thinking that far ahead. friday is the only thing that exists. game 5. forget the nlcs. no reason to even think about that for 1 second at this point. its doc on the mound friday night. nothing else matters.
and besides, it ain’t like we’re the yankees or tigers who have one good pitcher and a bunch of bums. cliff lee going in game 1 wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. you could set doc up to pitch games 3 and 7.
Posted: 09:43 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Jeff Lynskey
A few things stick out in the Phillies loss in game 4.1) We started off hot, scoring 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning, but then only able to tack on 1 more run going forward. We need our offense to continue to put pressure on the starting pitcher(Edwin Jackson) when there obviously struggling early. The Phillies did this in game 2 as well when Chris Carpenter was on the mound. That was a game we should have won given Carpenter’s performance and the Cards unreliable bullpen throughout the regular season. We’re letting a crappy bullpen off the hook in these last 2 games 2) Ryan Howard once again was clueless at the plate for the second consecutive game. He’s looked so uncomfortable and unsure of himself, especially against left-handed pitching. I hate to say this, but I would of pitch hit for him in the 8th when he was up with a man on second against Repczynski???. Maybe Mayberry would have been a better option at that point given Howard’s last few ABs. That was such a huge at bat in the game. 3) Oswalt was once again inconsistent for us in the biggest game of the year. I would have maybe taken my chances with Halladay on short rest and then Lee on full rest for game 5. If the Cards would have won both these games given this scenario, they definitely earned the right to play for the NLCS by beating our 2 best pitchers(Also 2 of the top 5 pitchers in baseball). Does anyone agree with this above idea???? 4) Polanco has been awful offensively throughout the entire series as well. You cannot have a guy go this cold over these last 4 crucial games. Its almost like an automatic out in the seven spot every time he comes up…..I’m hoping the Phillies will regroup and play the way there capable in game 5 and close this series out.
Posted: 09:44 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
Ryan…Carpenter’s gonna bring his A game Friday. Bottom line is the Phils have to score some runs. … Doc pitching well or not. The Phillies have just as much of a chance to lose this as they do to win. Not being negative….just completely realistic.
Posted: 09:48 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
I don’t know about that. Historically, guys really struggle making their first start after a 3 day rest start. I can’t find the stats right now but they talked about it on tbs the other night and it’s significant. guys usually pitch well on their 3 day rest start but its the next start where they really feel it. and carpenter has pitched the most innings in the national league this year. I would not expect him to be very sharp in this game. and furthermore I expect doc to give up 1, maybe 2 runs at the very most. and wouldn’t be surprised to see him shut them out totally. he’s simply legendary.
Posted: 09:52 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
Well, It’s gonna be interesting for sure. No one else I’d rather have on the mound, either.
Interesting fact too: During this era of Phillies baseball from 2007, the Phillies have never gone to a deciding Game 5 or Game 7 in a playoff series. That’s 9 series before this one starting with the NLDS in ’07. So this is new for them. We’ll see how they respond.
Posted: 10:20 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 henry
What do you baseball heads think of Utley trying to make it to third on Pence’s grounder to short with nobody out. When I saw it live, it seemed crazy to me that he would try it. And it wasn’t even close. Pujols might have even had time to hold the bag and make a good throw to double Utley. He’s a gold glove 1st baseman, the play was right in front of him, so he did the right thing to step away from 1st and towards the throw and get the “sure” out at third. I always thought that you don’t make the first out at third base, so if you go – you have to make it. Utley didn’t. Was it too aggressive or the right move to try and make it? Thoughts…
Posted: 10:50 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
LOve the aggressiveness but I thought it was unnecessary. Plus, Utley hesitated at second.
Posted: 10:56 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 David
Not going to fault Utley there. There are three things that could happen:
(1) The Phillies have 1st and 3rd with no out if a bad throw is made.
(2) The Phillies have a man on 3rd with an out if Pujols stays on the bag.
(3) The Phillies have a man on 1st if there is a good throw and good tag are made.
No way that Pujols can throw Utley out if he waits for the throw and stays on the bag. The only way that he can make that throw and throw Utley out is to get his body moving towards third base. If he waits a split second for the ball and then tries to crow hop to make the throw, Utley is safe. There are a lot of baseball people who would say that you always take the sure out. If the throw to Pujols skipped or was low or was high, Utley makes it.
While it was the 1st out made, its also noted that if he doesn’t go, Pence is out. So therefore, you have a runner at 1st rather than a runner at 2nd.
Posted: 01:29 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 robyn
Well said. Utley is a better, smarter baseball player than he showed in that move to steal third. He did not use his noggin – in my opinion, it was greedy, not agreessive.
Posted: 09:06 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
The arrogance of some is actually very annoying.
The Phillies are 50/50 at best in game 5.
A good manager will use an even medicore to bad bull pen to navigate the Phillies line up.
Howard is out on 3 pitches to left handed relievers. I know its unconventional. But whats the point with leaving him in? He isnt getting a hit off a lefty reliever in the 8th or 9th.
That makes you very vulnerable.
He is giving full effort and playing his heart out. So I am not bashing him. He just cant get a hit in that situation and it wont be happening. So teams now pitch to get to him in those situations.
Im not too thrilled with Utley or Hunter or Shane either. So not meaning to pick on Howard.
Heres to hoping they win on Friday. But its no lock.
Seacrest out
Posted: 10:58 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
The bad call strike out throw out double play was crucial.
It wasnt a strike and Hunter was safe anyway.
That killed the Phillies.
The phillies have to run it up early. As I stated before even a crappy pen ( st louis) can be utilized to nullify the ine up.
If they are gonna score alot and win it has to be early and often. It wont be late.
Posted: 11:03 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
One more thing. Play MM at 3rd wouldnt be a terrible thing.
Something is wrong with Poly. He isnt hitting.
Any spark is good.
Thank god for Ben Fran or it would be over right now.
Posted: 11:18 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
I’d go Valdez at third before MiniMart. Better bat.
Posted: 11:28 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
Andrew it was stated that his Hernia was acting up. Do we put Valdez in at 3rd. They have to work Carpenter the first go around just take some pitches. The offense is built on the big piece he has to come through for us. No one wanted a game 5 with these Cardinals Halladay or not. At times before we have been lucky in previous years. The luck well is running its course we need to play here.
Posted: 11:32 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
Last time the Phillies played a deciding Game 5 or Game 7 in a playoff series was the 1980 NLCS. That legendary series vs the Astros. Uncharted territory for this bunch. Chew on that, PN.
Posted: 11:44 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Id use MM. Hit him 8th. He can run and hes a switch hitter.
The offense simply cannot be built around a guy with a .347 slugging pct vs lefties.
Im hardly a stat geek but I hope people comrehend how bad that is.
It makes your line up vulnerable on an extreme level.
The other teams and managers are aware of this. And are playing it appropriately.
The old man needs to manage appropriately too.
Before I am accused of bashing. Howard has my respect for life. Hes playing hard and trying and wants to win very badly. He simply cannot hit left handed pitching.
thats 2 times now the Cards have brought in a questionable left handed reliever who has retired him on 3 pitches. Yes you pinch for him there. Yes vs a left handed starting pitcher you dont start him. You play to win the game.
Understand its not happening. I really like him and hes putting it all on the line. He simply cant do it. The old man needs to recognize this and adjust. They are walking people now to get to him.
First 6 innings vs a right handed starter? Id rather have him than any other firstbaseman. Vs lefties. Ill pass.
Posted: 11:54 PM on October 5, 2011
Posts: 2519 Chuck A.
If Charlie uses a PH for Howard then LaRussa just counters with a righty. Yeah, he’s gonna struggle in that at-bat but what about later in the game when he comes up facing a righty (maybe Motte the closer). I know it’s easy to just say pinch hit for him but you can’t take your biggst run producer out of the game at that point. Just can’t.
Posted: 12:26 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Yes and then you burn their lefty and they bring in a rightie.
Whats the point of letting him hit in 8th or 9th vs a leftie reliever? down by a run with runners on?
If you dont score there its over. Like tonight and game 2 where Rhodes struck him out on 3 pitches.
Regardless. Its not his fault. The team pays him and the team puts him in these situations.
Im off his back. Hes shown me a ton of heart and wanting to win for the last month.
There were times I questioned the effort and wanting to win. Thats over.
Win or lose Friday he earned my respect.
Other fans will not be so kind though.
Posted: 12:53 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Mil-Arizona going to game 5 also on Friday.
Dont know if the Phillies will be playing Sunday.
But believe me you want to play Milwaukee.
Arizona is feeling its oats. Very dangerous.
Posted: 01:06 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Ryan H
just gonna continue my tradition of disagreeing with yo on everything. but I’d much much much rather play AZ than milwaukee. any day of the week. Milwaukee is a way better team than arizona by almost every measure I can think of
Posted: 01:09 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Arizona hit a grand slam in both home playoff games and their last 4 home games.
you dont want them.
But then again you think firday is a lock.
50/50 is being kind to Halladay and the Phils.
Yes hes the best pitcher in baseball. Best phillie of all time.
The phils are also as likely to score 0 runs as anything else.
CC isnt on short rest. Hes been pointing to this.
At least he is right handed.
Posted: 01:18 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Phillies fan from Germany
Trust me, Halladay will shut down the Cards. This is a situation he’s living for. And against a RH starter the Phillies will score some runs. Sad to see Ryan hitting the way he is right now, but who knows, with one swing of the bat this might change.
Can’t wait for Friday. C’mon Phillies!!!
Posted: 04:44 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 1931 Brooks
Regardless of what the famed Doc does, without scoring at least 4 runs, the Phils are toast.
I really dont understand how the Phils could shut down so badly against this relief of the Cardinals. Salas (to mention one) is kicking our asses – I think he has given up only one base hit???
Ryan Howard is really pissing me off. Yes, Andrew he is trying his ass off but, by putting himself in the zen zone, he is zoning himself right into the Ozone. He did this last year too, obviously, he truly believes that he is the one, the annointed who can put this club into the WS and eventually capture the ring. It’s almost as if he is saying to himself, “Comon man, this is yours, you can do it, you have to do it… everybody is depending on you to do it..” when instead his focus should be on OK, 0-2 count with 2 fastballs, I know he is coming low and away with a breaker, I know this…. everybody in the free world knows this
Just focus on the game, not your stature big fella, you will be OK and so will the Phils if you do.
BTW, that magic we all fell in love with that sometimes appeared in the bottom of the 9th with the Phils behind – it has not shown itself at all this series. Let me end by saying “YET”.
Posted: 04:59 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Jack
Other than game 1, the offense has been shown up by the Cards. They are seeing the ball better than us, not good. I didn’t like the way the Phillies finished the year, the Cards on the otherhand finished hot. Im worried that is catching up with them.
I hope Halladay pitches hos best game of the year on Friday, we’re gonna need it
Posted: 05:28 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 hahaha
hahaha some dream team. hahahaha a wild cars team giving those mighty phils a run a pushing them to a game 5. even if this supposed lock team wins it compromises the rotation and injects doubt and humility. hahahahahahahahahaha #choking! fatass backwoods hillbilly Charlie look at the CPR chart, stat! hahahahahaha
Posted: 06:50 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Bob Myers
Jimmy Rollins has been incredible in this series. But we need Howard to at least be good in order to dominate other teams.
But we don’t have to dominate, we just have to win. This season I didn’t see a dominant team, just a team that could win over 60% of the time.
One concern is that the Cardinals have the momentum, and along with that, they have nothing to lose. If they lose to the Phillies in 5 games, they exceeded all expectations. If the Phillies lose, it will be fodder for recrimination and looked at like a big choke operation. This adds unwelcome pressure to the game. Halladay won’t be hurt by this extra pressure, but the bats need a series of 5-6 hits in one of the first three innings that leads to three or more runs.
I have to also admit that I’m impressed with Larussa’s active management. It’s annoying, he seems annoying, and he certainly has been wrong (like walking Ruiz to get to Benny Fresh), but it makes for increased intensity. Even when he uses three pitchers to get to three batters and we have to wait for three warm ups.
The Phillies ate tacos on their flight home last night. I’d prefer hearing they ate something else….because it seems to me that the winner of this series can win the whole enchilada.
Posted: 07:44 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 AJ
I know they say pitching wins ballgames, but with this offense being sooo anemic all year (take a look at the lack of run support all season long for Hamels) I’m afraid we have about a 50/50 shot on Friday. Doesn’t anyone go over stuff with them in batting practice??
Posted: 09:21 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 1046 Manny
I HATE BEST-OF-5 SERIES!!
Posted: 09:40 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Stuart
I honestly thought Utleys play was boneheaded. Absolutely awful. When down by one run later in the game you play it safe when you get in scoring position. I coach baseball and study it in college so coming from a future coach, that was stupid and changed the game. You could have had Howard and Vic coming up with someone on second and pass balls have allowed a lot of players to move up and with Howard coming up you expect those breaking balls in the dirt so maybe Chase could have gotten to third anyway with one out. DUMB PLAY CHASE!!!
Posted: 11:28 AM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Mark
Bottom line – if the Phils $25mm/yr superstar was minimally productive in the last three games, this series would be over.
Posted: 05:10 PM on October 6, 2011
Posts: 0 Latesha
This introduces a pleasingly raotinal point of view.
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Posted: 06:47 AM on December 16, 2011