Bats suffer Spring Break slump

This one stung a bit.  It was the first time the Phillies were shutout all season losing 9-0 against the Brewers and the first time this year they have lost back to back games.  Oh well, it’s just one game right?

So about that one game….

It was just one of those nights for the Phillies.  With their ace, Roy Halladay, on the mound the bats could not get going.  It is games like these that the offense gets over looked I think.  The line will have Halladay being charged with six runs in 6.2 innings.  All of which would not matter had the offense scored seven runs, which we all know they are very capable of doing.

The Phillies didn’t get the best out of Halladay tonight.  In my opinion, it looked like Doc was getting pinched a bit by the home plate umpire.  Halladay gave up a season high 10 hits and six runs.  He hadn’t given up six runs since June 15, 2010 at Yankee Stadium.  Halladay is human.

The offense on the other hand was not human tonight.  They were without a pulse.  The team that leads the division in average and runs managed only two hits off starter Randy Wolf and then none from the bullpen.  Shane Victorino‘s double in the third inning was the last hit by any Phillies player.  Jimmy Rollins had a bunt single in the first.

A lot will be said about Charlie Manuel’s decision to start Raul Ibanez in left and John Mayberry Jr in right while sitting Ben Francisco.  Ibanez has had some success against the lefty Wolf in the past but an extra righty in the line up could have mixed it up a little.

Halladay got an extra day of rest because of the rainout.  He was coming off a 123 pitch complete game against Washington.  Manuel thought the extra day would help.

Ryan Braun continued his hitting ways against the Phillies.  Braun went 2 for 3 with a home run and three runs scored.  He has now reached base safely in every game this season.

David Herndon came in for relief of Halladay and served up a three run homer to Casey McGehee.  Herndon didn’t record an out and was charged with two hits and three runs.  Mike Zagurski got the call up today filling in for the injured J.C. Romero and pitch a third of an inning striking out one batter and allowing a hit.

The Phillies will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow with Cliff Lee on the hill.  This will be the first series the Phillies have lost all season.