Somehow Chad Durbin pitched his way out of Adam Eaton’s jam. From there it seemed as if the Phillies could hold on and defeat the Giants, that the bullpen would easily shut down San Francisco’s offense and give the Phils a series and west coast trip win.
JC Romero didn’t have it, however.
The usually reliable lefty gave up a two-run homer to pinch hitter Steve Holm, seizing the lead for the Giants at 4-3, the final score. Romero grabbed the loss and his ERA is now at 1.76. It’s only the second homer Romero has surrendered this season, but also the second in two weeks.
They were lucky enough to lose by that small a deficit. Eaton wasn’t completely strong in the start, going five innings and giving up two runs on five hits while walking five. That kind of start won’t cut it; he may have bought himself one more start, but the clock is ticking.
The Phils scored on a bases loaded walk by Eaton, an RBI triple by Ryan Howard and a sac fly by Pat Burrell. Howard’s triple was a well-struck ball into cavernous center field; the big man also struck out twice — it’s still uncertain if Howard is on his way back or he’s just getting lucky with hittable stuff once every four at bats.
This was a tough loss, considering the normally tough bullpen took it on the chin. Add in that the Phils should be beating San Francisco and could’ve ended the road trip at 4-3, and it makes for a tough pill to swallow. The Phils are now three games back of the still-surging Marlins.
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