Phillies Bullpen Very Loose With their Definition of “Relief”: Phillies Lose 10-6

Let’s go over some positives from tonight’s game.  #1. positive:  Cliff Lee pitched and his side didn’t blow apart.  He threw the ball over the plate and made the batters on the other team swing and not hit it where there weren’t fielders.  He even got an RBI on an infield single.  #2. positive:  Freddy Galvis fell a home run shy of the cycle and collected three RBI.  He even came a few inches from getting an opposite field home run.  In the process he raised his batting average to .213.  #3. positive: Placido Polanco went 2-4 and raised his batting average to .278.  He still does not walk and he has no power, but at least he is given the opportunity to be stranded on first base.

Essentially every other aspect of this game was negative.

After Cliff’s 80 pitch allotment was exhausted, Kyle Kendrick was handed the ball.  One plus inning, four hits (all for extra bases), two walks, a hit batsman and and five earned runs.  He entered the game with a 4-2 lead.  He even was given the opportunity to go out for a second inning after getting absolutely killed in his first inning of work.  These are the kind of outing that everyone remembers when they blame Kyle for ruining everything.  Tonight, it was not a funny inside joke for Phillies fans, Kyle really did ruin everything.  The rest of the bullpen was pretty much just as bad as the combination of Jose Contreras and Brian Sanches allowed another three runs collectively.  After the Phillies bullpen got the ever-loving hell kicked out of it in the last few games, they have now achieved the rank of worst bullpen ERA in the National League.

There was some bad defense from Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence, some shots of Mets players dancing around and laughing and a haunting reminder that Kyle Kendrick is under contract for next season.  The Phillies were just swept by the Mets for the first time since 2006.

Bring on the Padres.

(14-18)