Tyler Cloyd didn’t give the Phils much of a chance tonight. (Photo: AP)
The 2013 season is winding down, and the Phillies look like they’re already playing golf.
Behind a downright awful effort from Tyler Cloyd, and an absentee offense, the Braves easily defeated the Phillies tonight 7-1 in a game where they never really seemed interested in being there.
CLOYD LAYS AN EGG
– It was Tyler Cloyd, so there’s no way tonight’s result is surprising. Things got ugly early for the middling right-hander, as Jason Heyward took Cloyd deep to lead off the ballgame. It was a fitting start, as Heyward would lead the Braves all night, going 5-for-5 with four extra base hits. Atlanta would tack on four more runs in the first, Cloyd basically pitching BP to the Braves lineup. It would take him forty pitches to retire the nine hitters he faced in the inning, and nothing was easy.
– With the Phillies bullpen scheduled for a lot of work this weekend, Cloyd the Void would head back out for the second. Continuing his horrid start, he allowed two more runs before recording an out. With the score 7-1 in favor of the Braves, Sandberg would mercifully lift the once heralded Iron Pig. This could very well be the last time we see him in a Phillies uniform–or in the big leagues, period–and what a way for the Cloydster to go.
THE BATS DON’T HELP MUCH EITHER
– On offense, the Phils gave more of the same. They couldn’t muster much of anything against the Braves pitching, notching just one run on nine hits (or just four more than Heyward had all by himself). Though, it didn’t really matter because this game was over the second Ty-Cloyd Fever took the mound. The lackluster performance has become an all-too-familiar calling card of the Phillies this season, one I’m certain you can’t wait to put a lid on.
YOUR SILVER LINING
– I’m all about a positive outlook, so I think it’s imperative to find something encouraging about tonight’s game. If you’re into the whole tank philosophy, this loss is about as much as you could hope for. The Phils were out of it early, and never even considered coming back. This is a big step forward in the quest for a coveted protected pick next year.
– Oh, and the bullpen didn’t allow a single run after Cloyd-a-mania did his best impression of the Hindenburg. Though I’m not positive that wasn’t because the Braves lineup had already begun looking ahead to the next game. Either way!
UP NEXT
-The Phils and Braves are back at it again tomorrow, as the 2013 season winds down. It’ll be your last chance to see Cliff Lee (14-7, 2.93) pitch, as he takes on Atlanta’s Kris Medlen (14-12, 3.24).
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