GDT 6/22/17: Cardinals (Martinez) @ Phillies (Nola)

[EastFallowfield]

Had 'em all the way, Harry!

Cards' color guy all day was saying the series is a lost opportunity if they didn't win today...Oh well.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Garcia works a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Home plate umpire helped him out with a generous third strike call on the first batter up on a 3-2 pitch. Phils win 5-1.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Phils last two wins are against Chris Sale and Carlos Martinez. We play up to the competition it seems.

[DurhamBull]

Wait, what just happened? Did the starter go more than 5? Did the bullpen not implode? Did the Phillies score more runs than the opposing team? I remember that sort of thing happening before!

[LoneStarPhan]

Starting pitching was not the problem in this series with St. Louis.
Hellickson went 7 innings, one run.
Pivetta went 6 innings, 3 runs. He left with a 2 run lead. This follows his 7 shutout innings vs. Boston in his previous start.
Nola goes 7.1 innings today, one run.

Lively gave them 6 innings, 3 runs in his last start (vs. Arizona)
Eichkhoff went 6 innings, one run in his last start (vs. Arizona) before going on DL.

Bullpen? Yes, a problem in this series, although they got it done today.

In spite of the terrible record so far this year, I continue to be optimistic. I think better days are ahead and it may not be all that long away.

[Austinfan]

Nola pitched like he did last year before the elbow went.
91-92 to start, then up to 92-93 t94 for most of the game.
Finally ran out of steam at about 100 pitches on a hot sunny day.
His two seamer is back, just some nasty pitches off the outside of the plate that broke back for strikes. Location was pretty good, not perfect.
Curve ball was a bit erratic, some good ones, some hangers, some he couldn't locate.
Changeup was very good, he needs to keep working on it and throwing it more often.

Nola has been gradually working his way back to his old self, with the added benefit that he's added a legitimate MPH from an average of 91 to 92.
I think he's may be a year away from taking the next step where he sharpens his curve, learns to balance the two and four seamer, and makes a wicked changeup another weapon in his arsenal. He just turned 24, I can see him raising his game to a true #1, similar to Hamels in his peak years.

[rkeden]

Durham-- You are right. This was a nearly perfect game. It was the Phillies too, because I saw them on MLB.com. No mistake. Of course, Herrera did get picked off third, so at least our base-running skills are consistent, game in and game out. (He did do a fist-bump with Juan, so I now can be sure that he knows Juan is there.)

[rkeden]

Since I have been critical, I should also throw kudos to Odubel when warranted. He is a doubles machine. He hit his 25th today and is second in the Majors, two behind the leader. That is not a small thing and should eventually result in "runs scored". He has only 29 runs scored, so that hasn't been a positive yet.

[Lucky_Beagle]

Another day an other "misunderstand" between the manager and his best relief pitcher:

"Pat Neshek needed just five pitches to record a double play and end the eighth inning. Manager Pete Mackanin said he asked Neshek if he could pitch the ninth and Neshek said "he would rather not" and "he didn't feel like he had it." Neshek said later that he was never asked to pitch the ninth.....

YOU can read the rest at philly.com

[Les229]

I always watch the day games later that evening. I have too much to do in the afternoon. I mean, I go to lunch about , and while I am there troll the chat rooms. Then the old farts collect at the Palm Pavilion to settle the problems of the world. I get home about and prepare some dinner for me and the dog and turn the game on pm. It ain't easy bein' me.

One thing about this win, the bullpen finally held up.