Offense, Moyer, Struggle in Loss

When ducks are on the pond, bring them home. The Phillies haven’t figured out that concept during the last few games. Maybe they’re allergic to RISP, because they continue to strand runners on base.

Only 13 pitches were thrown by Jamie Moyer in an easy 1-2-3 first inning. However, it took one pitch for the Rockies to take a 2-0 lead on Garrett Atkins’ home run.

In the third, the Phillies had a perfect opportunity to take the lead. Ryan Howard, the franchise leader in grand slams, had a chance for another. Instead, he chased a pitch in the dirt, striking out to end the threat. Howard is struggling mightily. He is 2-for-his-last-18 with nine strikeouts. To succeed against Howard, the pitcher needs to throw an offspeed pitch out of the zone and he will swing and miss.

In the meantime, Ryan Spilborghs drove in a run and Moyer walked Chris Iannetta with the bases loaded. The Rockies led, 4-0. There was life when Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run home run to make it 4-2. But the Rockies are known for their offense, and they had no trouble piling runs on Moyer and the Phillies.

Moyer lasted five innings, giving up six earned runs on six hits and four walks. Rodrigo Lopez wasn’t much better out of the bullpen. In two innings, he allowed two runs, in addition to allowing both of Moyer’s inherited runners to score.

The Rockies embarrassed the Phillies in their 8-3 victory. In order to be a successful team, the Phillies need their offense to pick up the pace and they can not have Moyer pitching like this.