Phils Drop Fourth Straight Spring Game to Jays
The Phils early Spring offensive woes continued this evening as they dropped their fourth straight Spring Training game, this time to the Blue Jays at home, 5-3. The Phillies got on the board early with a bases-loaded Bobby Abreu walk in the first off of knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in the first but couldn’t capitalize further. After scoring three in the first four innings off of Dickey, the Phillies could only muster six hits total off of 2013 All-Star reliever Steve Delabar and four other pitchers, including only two hits in the final five innings.
The offense came mostly from the hands of right fielder Marlon Byrd, who had an infield single in the first and an impressive third inning homer. Byrd leads the Phillies regulars with a .383 BA.
The Phillies wasted a solid outing from their pitching staff. Cliff Lee pitched three and gave up only one earned, striking out two and walking none. B.J. Rosenberg pitched two innings, giving up a blast to Adam Lind as his only hit. Rosenberg’s fastball looked impressive before and after facing Lind – Lind seemingly had his number. Luis Garcia earned the L with a shaky sixth while non-roster invitee Shawn Camp pitched through his second-straight scoreless outing.
The Phils resume their Grapefruit League schedule tomorrow against the Braves. For those interested in seeing how the bullpen will shakeout, this is the game for you to watch: the Phils send non-roster invitee Sean O’Sullivan to the hill for the start with Brad Lincoln, Antonio Bastardo, Jake Diekman, and Rule 5 pick Kevin Munson taking the hill (h/t Todd Zolecki).
