While the Eagles were wrapping up their third win of the season in three games, A.J. Burnett took the mound in Oakland to close out the Phillies' three-game series against the Athletics. Burnett was wild, but also injured; he looks like someone who is unwilling to quit. However, six walks and two hit batters led to Burnett's early demise. The Phillies would make it interesting and send the game to extra innings, but the bullpen could not keep the Athletics from scoring for too long.
The Game
Burnett's struggles are what one would be most likely to take away from this game. In Burnett's four and one-third innings, Burnett gave up just three hits. However, the additional eight baserunners from the walks and hit batsmen contributed to six earned runs. Burnett exited with the Phillies down 6-4.
Scott Kazmir has been a remarkable story for the Athletics for much of the 2014 season. However, in recent days, the 14-9 Kazmir has been leaking oil. Today was no exception as Kazmir gave up six earned runs of his own before departing after five and one-third innings. Kazmir, like Burnett, did not get a decision since he left the game with the score tied at six.
After Kazmir departed the game it was a battle of the bullpens. The Phillies' bullpen did a good job; Cesar Jimenez, Luis Garcia, Jake Diekman, and Justin De Fratus combined for four and two-thirds scoreless innings. The Athletics' bullpen contributed four and two-thirds scoreless innings of their own, as Dan "don't call me Ricky" Otero, Fernando Abad, Luke Gregerson, and Sean Doolittle shut the Phillies down.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez entered the game in the 10th inning with the score tied and would take his first major league loss. Coco Crisp popped out to open the bottom of the 10th, but Nate Freiman would follow with a single. With the count 1-0, third baseman Josh Donaldson took Gonzalez deep for his 28th home run of the season. The two-run shot would end the tie and the game.
Notable Offensive Statistics:
- Marlon Byrd slipped out of his slump and went 2-5 with two doubles and three RBI
- Freddy Galvis also remained hot with a triple. Galvis has hit in six straight games and has two home runs, a triple, and two doubles in that span.
- Josh Donaldson went 3-5 with the game-winning home run.
Impact:
There is none from the Phillies' perspective, but the Athletics badly needed today's win to remain in the wild card race. Once a lock for the postseason, the Athletics have been in a tailspin since trading power-hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Boston Red Sox. Adam Dunn was brought in to soften the offensive blow, but the Athletics seem to be really struggling for hits still.
Up Next:
The Phillies have Monday off before beginning a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami. With the Phillies eliminated and the Marlins all but, the game should be a chance for the young players on both squads to play. The Marlins are without Giancarlo Stanton for the rest of the season after he was hit in the face by a pitch, but watch their other young outfielders in Christian Yelich and Marcel Ozuna.
