If it’s not the bullpen, it’s the defense. Cody Asche’s three errors wasted an exceptional performance from Cliff Lee as the Angels rallied to win, 4-3.
ASCHE STRUGGLES
-Just a lousy, awful, terrible game for Cody Asche. He recorded three errors at third base which led to the Angels scoring four runs, wiping away any chance at a Cliff Lee win. I’ve seen Asche take extra grounders day after day and it just doesn’t seem to be working for him. And right now, his bat is not making up for it.
LEE STRONG
-If the Phillies rotation rounded up the team, put them in a bus, then drove the bus off the a cliff, would anyone blame them? Cliff Lee was solid, per usual, but was done in by Asche on D and an offense that allowed Matt Shoemaker, making his second career start, an easy five innings. Lee went seven innings allowing no earned runs while striking out seven. Again, he did not win.
MILLVILLE SCREAMS FOR TROUT
-Over 41,000 packed the stands for local kid Mike Trout, with about 8,000 of them driving the 40-or-so miles from his native Millville, NJ. Who wouldn’t watch Mike Trout vs. Cliff Lee over and over and over? The decision went to Lee. Trout grounded out and struck out, with a single in there, too. He was also the beneficiary of an Asche error.
-Interesting note: before the game, in front of about 50 media members, Mike Trout actually seemed nervous. It sometimes easy to forget that he’s just a 22 year old kid that’s five years removed from playing in high school games.
OTHER STUFF
-Struggling for the better part of the season, Dom Brown put together a few nice swings tonight, including a triple to the RCF gap. The Phillies certainly need more of that tonight.
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