If you've ever seen the 1992 movie Glengarry Glen Ross, you'll recognize the following line:
"Oh come on, what's the point? What's the *expletive* point…" – Ricky Roma
Alright, maybe a bit harsh. However, it's fitting. It's all I can think when I sit down to watch the Phillies anymore. What is the point? Ruben Amaro Jr. refuses to make any sort of move to improve this squad, so why should I bother to watch? The worst part is, I won't stop. I love this team, and the sport, way too much. Now I'll be able to watch this club decay like a forgotten carcass. It's despicable.
Anyway, there was another game tonight. After dropping the first two games to the Cardinals in St. Louis, Kyle Kendrick took the bump tonight to try and salvage the final contest. Lance Lynn would look to go for the sweep in front of the home crowd. He didn't start off very well, though. Jimmy Rollins started it off with a double, while Michael Young worked a walk. With two runners on and nobody out, can you guess what the Phillies did? Exactly. A strikeout and a double play halted the threat.
Neither pitcher had their best stuff, but both were able to pitch scoreless in the first few innings. Not surprisingly, Kendrick would give up the first shot. Pete Kozma was sacrificed over to second by Lynn after he began the third with a single. Matt Carpenter singled as well, allowing Kozma to score the game's first run. John Jay then hit a true triple into the right field gap, scoring Carpenter and allowing him to come home on a Matt Adams base knock. Just that quickly, the score was 3-0 Cardinals.
The one positive the Phillies had going was Lynn's pitch count. In the fourth inning, he surpassed the 80 pitch mark. In that inning, the Phillies staged a "rally" of sorts. Darin Ruf and John Mayberry Jr. each reached base with a walk and a single, respectively. Ruf would quickly be erased on a Laynce Nix fielder's choice. Erik Kratz (or, as I like to refer to him as, EK) dropped a ball into left field to bring home Laynce Nix. No shutout tonight, with the score reaching 3-1.
Up until the ninth, neither team really showed much of a chance to score. Darin Ruf began things with a single, but Nix grounded out, Mayberry struck out, and EK went down swinging, and the Phillies are swept by the Cardinals. Phillies lose 3-1.
Another loss. I hope you're not surprised. And to top it off, things will not get better tomorrow. The Phillies will now head to Detroit to play the defending American League Champions. They will miss Justin Verlander while they're out their, but they will have to take on Max Scherzer. How fitting that the Phillies head into the second half of the season having to face the two starters from this years All-Star Game (Harvey last Sunday, Scherzer Saturday). Tomorrow will see Cole Hamels battle Doug Fister at 7:08 (yes) PM.
