September 24, 2011
So now the streak is at seven. Seven....Straight....Losses.
Since clinching the NL East last week, the Phillies have not been able to do anything. That continued today.
Cole Hamels pitched a great game. The only mistake Hamels made was giving up a solo homer to pinch hitter Valentino Pascucci in the seventh.
Up until that point, Hamels was throwing a shutout, and he finished with 7.0 innings pitched, with four hits and an earned run allowed. He walked three and struckout seven.
The Phillies offense was only able to manage one run against the Met's knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who carried a no hitter in to the seventh.
With one out, Shane Victorino doubled to left to break up the no hit bid. Then Ryan Howard, who was in the lineup for the first time since the division clincher, singled to center to drive in Victorino.
After seven innings the game was tied at one. In the bottom of the eight, Brad Lidge pitched in relief of Hamels.
After shortstop Jose Reyes flew out to Victorino in center, Lidge allowed a single to second baseman Ruben Tejada. Tejada stole second, then Lidge gave up a double to third baseman David Wright that drove in Tejada to make it 2-1 Mets.
The Phillies lost by a final of 2-1, extending their losing streak to seven games since clinching the division.
Brad Lidge received the loss, he is now 0-2 this season. New York's Bobby Parnell (4-6) got the win, even though he pitched only a third of an inning to end the eighth.
The Phil's offense were only able to get four hits off the Met's pitching.
The Phillies are the first team to win 98 games and have a seven game losing streak in Major Leagu Baseball history.
The 1904 New York Giants were the former record holders, losing six straaight. They did not win the World Series that year, because there was none. But they did win the National League.
Here is a better stat, the Phillies now hold the longest losing streak after clinching a division title, surpassing the 1987 Minnesota Twins, who lost five straight after clinching the division. The '87 Twins did win the World Series that year.
Historical stats aside, the Phightin' Phils haven't been showing any fight since winning the NL East. It's extremely frustrating to see a team this good play this poorly, and with the start of the playoffs quickly approaching, you just wish they would snap out of it and get hot again.
Hopefully this team can find a way to flip the switch and start winning again once the playoffs start.
The Phillies will go back at it tonight for the second game of today's doubleheader. I realize I have said this a lot over the past week, and their only motivation right now is to be playoff ready, but maybe they will show some life and get back on the winning track tonight.
Phillies.com
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_09_24_phimlb_nynmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=phi
CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/Instant-Replay-Mets-2-Phillies-1?blockID=566778&feedID=704
ESPN.com
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310924221&teams=philadelphia-phillies-vs-new-york-mets
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