Image courtesy of Matt Sautter
Welcome to the second half of the 2012 MLB season. Typically, the Phillies are a much better team during the second half than in the first half. They didn't look like it tonight in Colorado. After a four-day break for the All-Star Game and its festivities, Cliff Lee was looking for that second win after coming off of his first on July 4th against the Mets.
Josh Rutledge, a recent call-up in Denver, stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the second. He not only recorded hit first major league hit, but he plated his first RBI with a double to center to score Michael Cuddyer.
The Phils came back and tied it in the top of the third. Jimmy Rollins doubled to left field to score John Mayberry, Jr.
Rutledge added to his already impressive night with a sacrifice fly to right which scored Tyler Colvin in the sixth inning. Eric Young, Jr. added an RBI single to left, and the Rockies jumped ahead to a 3-1 lead.
Cliff Lee would only go six innings tonight. He allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits, walking one and striking out four. He tossed 95 pitches- 65 for strikes.
Michael Schwimer came into the ballgame for the seventh inning and it resulted in a, dare I say, Schwimplosion. First, Carlos Gonzalez scored on a single from Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez then scored on a triple from Michael Cuddyer. Carlos Ruiz made an error by tossing the ball over the head of Placido Polanco, which allowed Cuddyer to score. Schwimer then walked two straight batters, which led to Charlie pulling him for Kyle Kendrick who recorded the final out. But, Colorado had hopped on a 6-1 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Jimmy Rollins sliced a triple to deep left center. Rollins was able to score on a sacrifice fly from Chase Utley. 6-2 Rockies.
Another bullpen implosion and lack of runs resulted in another loss for the Phillies. They start off this road trip with a 6-2 loss to the Rockies. They'll look for a win tomorrow at 8:10.
