As many could have predicted when the news that Cliff Lee wouldn't be starting tonight broke, the Phillies lost what was easily one of the least competitive game in MLB this season, falling 10-0 to the Detroit Tigers.
Raul Valdes, starting in place of the injured Lee, was in trouble from the beginning. After retiring the first two batters, Valdes gave up five straight hits, resulting in five Detroit runs. Reigning MVP Miguel Cabrera started things off with a solo homer to left field. Prince Fielder, Victor Martinez, and Johnny Peralta each followed with singles, with Peralta's scoring Fielder, before Matt Tuiasosopo bashed a three-run homer.
Tigers All-Star starter Max Scherzer was dominant through six innings. He allowed just one hit, struck out seven, and walked one before he was pulled for reliever Al Alburquerque in the seventh. He sat the Phillies down in order in five of his six innings. Truth be told, no Philly hitters really had a chance.
Detroit tacked on another three runs in the second with singles from Torii Hunter, Cabrera, Fielder and Martinez.In the third, Cabrera grounded to short to score Hunter, who reached on a double and advanced to third on an error by Laynce Nix.
In the fifth, Hernan Perez singled with one out. After advancing on an Alex Avila single and Austin Jackson walk, Hunter scored Perez on a sac-fly for the tenth and final run. The relievers for both teams pitched scoreless innings.
Michael Young, Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley were all pulled in the fifth in favor of Steve Susdorf, John McDonald, and John Mayberry, respectively. The coaching staff obviously saw no reason to leave the veterans in during such a meaningless game, much in the same way that Scherzer was only made to throw 75 pitches in six innings instead of going any further.
Hopefully they put on a better performance tomorrow as Jonathan Pettibone takes the mound against Detroit's Rick Porcello.
