Lidge Implodes, Offense Stalls Again In Loss

Brad Lidge surrendered his first meaningful runs of the season, as a close game became a blowout, an 8-2 loss to the Braves. The Phillies are now two games back of the Mets in the NL East, tied with the Marlins for second place.

Ryan Howard hit his 30th home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth inning. By that time it was way too late. And it was, in a way, a cruel joke. As if the offense said, “Oh, we had enough to win this game, it just came too late.” Please. The offense was putrid yet again, and a combination of their play and Jair Jurrjens pitching made it another bad showing for the Phils.

The Phils manufactured just four hits off the Braves, all singles, sans the Howard homer.

Kyle Kendrick was the unfair loser. He sprayed seven Brave hits, the unfortunate one being a Brian McCann home run to give the Braves the lead, 1-0. That’s how the score stayed until Lidge entered and the game blew open. Suddenly his ERA is at an unfathomable 2.36. But he was destined to have one of these games. The rest of ’em? They’ve been having ’em for a while now.

Associated Press photo