Even the best offenses will go cold for a few games in a row. In the long season scheme of things, it's a move it along, nothing to see here situation. But that doesn't mean it's not a little frustrating to see the Phils get shut out twice times in three games, scoring just three runs over a span that also included getting one-hit at home and blanked by the Mets.
Last night, their pitching let up eight runs while their offense failed to score off of an opposing knuckleball hurler for the second straight game; their three runs on Sunday were after Tim Wakefield had retired to his quarter. The Mets' RA Dickey worked his way out of two early jams (read: the Phillies stranded the bases loaded twice in the first three innings) and notched a career-high seven strikeouts against a Phils lineup just itching to break out of a funk. Facing back-to-back knuckleballers, the timing couldn't have been worse for pressing at the plate. As you can see in the picture above, the species generates its stymying lack of ball rotation by menacingly contorting it face, which also serves to distract the hunter.
The good news is, they're more likely to get hit by a comet than see two knucklers in a row again. That is unless teams eager for a postseason win at the hands of the free-swingin' Phils start trading for these guys and bringing in specially trained catchers by helicopter.
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Phillies pitching was dinked for a single run in five of the first six innings, with Jamie Moyer giving up four earned over five and David Herndon allowing one run in two frames. Then Nelson Figueroa came in and threw BP to his old mates for the eighth. It wasn't just Dickey who frustrated them at the plate though; when Raul Valdez relieved him, Shane Victorino managed a walk, then was doubled over to third by Placido Polanco, who had three hits on the night. Nice right? Two runners in scoring position with no outs. But two K's and a groundout later, the Valdez was rolling and the Phils offense was done for the night.
Tonight we'll see Hisanori Takahashi, who blanked the Yankees for six innings in a spot start on Friday. The 35-year-old rookie worked hitters inside and wasn't afraid to throw breaking balls in fastball counts. Hey great.
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)