Another Shaky 9th for Myers, Marlins Avoid Sweep

The Phillies entered last night hoping to win their fourth in a row, sweep the Marlins, and start the weekend series sitting just three games back of the Mets, tied for the Wild Card lead. Kyle Kendrick again led the way, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and a walk over 7 innings. But Killer K got little help from the offense, and Brett Myers let his Hyde side show again, taking a 9th inning loss. On a night like last night at CBP, it's hard to cast too much blame on a pitcher. It was pouring, and the field was soaked. Still, Brett gave up as many runs in one frame as Kendrick did in seven, and he's supposed to be the lights out closer.

Since returning from a 2-month DL sentence, Myers has shown flashes of brilliance, like his 3-K save on Wednesday night. But he's also looked pretty shaky at times, not the least of which being his meltdown in Chi-town. With the Braves coming to CBP this weekend, the fans and Charlie Manuel have to be wondering which Myers will show up when called upon at the end of a tight game.

Phillies-Braves Matchups
Cole takes the hill tonight against Chuck James; Adam Eaton and his NL-worst ERA get lucky and draw Lance Cormier tomorrow; and Jamie Moyer looks to stay hot against Brandi Carlyle on Sunday. Fortunately, Tim Hudson and John Smoltz won't make an appearance, and the matchups seem to favor the Phils--at least as far as the starters are concerned... The Braves sent their closer, Big Boy Bob Wickman, back to the ATL yesterday with some shoulder soreness, but they picked up Octavio Dotel at the deadline, who is more than capable of filling in.

Comments

[Tartan69]

Brandi Carlyle...haha, clever.

[Mike]

Did anyone else out there see Kendrick underhand the ball to a kid in the stands and the ball go right through the kid's hands hitting him square in the forehead. The kid holds his forehead and starts crying (probably more so because he lost the ball not actually being hurt) while his mom is laughing at him...hilarious.

[pilgrim]

Mike - I caught that as well. Kid had a glove on and everything and the ball just drills him above the eye. Priceless.

This reminds me: is anyone else disconcerted with the amount of broadcast time Wheels spends watching and talking about pre-pubescent boys in the crowd? I swear last night he spent half an inning ogling some kid that wouldn't stop biting his glove. Wheels creeps me out more and more each game; he just exhudes pederasty.

[chuck, lance and randy, HEYYYYYY!]

could the gayves starters this weekend not have gayer names?

[Dungheap]

Pilgrim - I watched the game at a bar with the sound off and my buddy asked what the hell was up with the pederast cameraman. That it was Wheels is not surprising. Someone better keep an eye on that guy.

[Walklett]

That kid getting hit square between the eyes was priceless.

I like the emotion from Pat "smash the bat on the ground and break it into two pieces" Burrell. It's nice to see him fired up.

How horrible was the plate umpire last night? Did he even have a strike zone?

[Dr. Kenneth Noisewater]

Just more proof that Meyers is a starter and not a closer. Closing is more mental than physical. I mean, Trevor Hoffman has the velocity of a pre-pubescent schoolgirl at this point, but he still gets the job done. At least we don't have to watch Wickman take an hour between pitches this weekend. I'll be keeping a lookout for Wheels on To Catch A Predator.

[johndewar]

I still can't believe that kid missed that ball. Kendrick underhanded it to him and the kid, who had a glove, still missed it.

What did we learn here? 1.)Catch with 2 hands even when you have a glove. 2.) Don't get caught crying to Mommy on TV as it will haunt you forever.

As for Wheels....well, you should never trust someone with a rug that bad. That's proof right there he's hiding something.