Savery Punished As Pirates Win, 11-6
The youth movement for the Phillies isn’t quite ready to attack. In an 11-6 loss to the Pirates, Joe Savery was hit hard, tagged for five runs including a three-run shot by Nate McLouth.
Savery, from Scott Lauber:
“You have to take the good with the bad. I wasn’t happy with the results, but I learned a lot. I got a couple of strikeouts and a broken bat, so I know my stuff is good enough. It’s just a matter of locating it better.”
He did strike out two, which is a positive, but if there’s one thing to take from Joe, it’s he’s got a long way to go before he’s in Philadelphia.
The same may be true for Josh Outman, who also struggled in an inning-plus. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick pitched a Kendrickian effort in three innings, giving up one run. At the back end, Francisco Rosario gave up a run and walked a few, being exactly what we expect from him. And Lincoln Holdzkom didn’t do his chances any favors, walking a bunch and getting into a bases loaded jam in the ninth. Compared to Travis Blackley so far, Holdzkom is a long shot.
Offensively, Pedro Feliz continued to strike the ball well, while the boys came alive in the third inning. Chase Utley got his first Spring hit — an RBI double — before Ryan Howard crushed his first homer of the Spring. Right now, there’s nothing to be worried about at the end of the clubhouse.
Tomorrow, the Phils meet the Buccos again. It’ll be JD Durbin against Ian Snell.
What we got out of this game:
- Lincoln Holdzkom needs to pitch well next time out, or else.
- Joe Savery’s Philadelphia debut looks further off than we may have thought.
- The offense is already in June mode.
- Eric Bruntlett (playing centerfield) makes it easier to give up on Wes Helms for good.
