Error, Pitiful Offense Results in 3-1 Loss to Phillies in Series Opener

Brandon Beachy pitched well in his debut, but his fly ball luck ran out in the fifth due to an error that put the Phillies ahead for good. The offense was completely dead as the Phillies beat the Braves in the series opener, 3-1.

The Braves struck first with a run in the second on a RBI double by Brian McCann. They put runners on the corners with no outs in the same inning, but Alex Gonzalez struck out and Melky Cabrera grounded into a double play. It was obvious at the time and it became even more obvious later that not getting another run across was big. The Phillies answered in the home half with a RBI double by Carlos Ruiz that tied it.

Neither team threatened until the fifth, when Gonzalez doubled with one out, but Cabrera struck out. Apparently Bobby felt Beachy’s luck-filled pitching was of more importance than pinch hitting and having a chance at scoring the go-ahead run. Beachy struck out to end the inning.

The Phillies took advantage in the home half with two runs. Shane Victorino led off with a three-base error when Jason Heyward dropped a line drive. Placido Polanco grounded out to bring home Victorino and take the lead. After Chase Utley singled, Eric O’Flaherty relieved Beachy to face Ryan Howard. However, he walked him and for some reason was left in to face Jayson Werth, who was also walked to load the bases. Raul Ibanez followed with a groundout that scored their third run.

Neither team threatened again. Naturally, the Phillies were shut down by the Braves bullpen and their infinite number of lefties. The Braves pulled off on every pitch trying to hit homers instead of going with a pitch and starting a rally. The Braves offense showed something tonight. That’s about all I can say.

Beachy’s line is solid, allowing one earned run and three total in 4.1 innings, giving up four hits and one unintentional walk. The problem is he induced two groundouts and 10 fly outs while getting one strikeout. He received a good amount of luck that eventually came back to get him in the form of the Heyward error. Beachy’s stuff was pretty good, but he continually left the ball up on his change and curve, giving Braves fans small heart attacks quite often. Considering the situation, you can’t help but be pleased with Beachy’s performance.

O’Flaherty walked two and got one out after relieving Beachy. Peter Moylan finished EOF’s inning and pitched a scoreless sixth. Mike Dunn pitched a scoreless seventh. Kyle Farnsworth pitched a perfect eighth, including two strikeouts.

McCann recorded the lone RBI. Derrek Lee went 2-4 but struck out twice. Heyward picked up a hit and walk. Omar Infante and Martin Prado combined to go 0-8, killing any chances around Heyward. Cabrera went 0-3 with a strikeout and hit into a double play, not to mention some pretty questionable defense again. Starting Nate McLouth at least gives the Braves better defense.

Cole Hamels allowed one run on six hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out six. He threw 117 pitches, getting plenty of help from a hacking offense. He got 11 groundouts. Brad Lidge followed with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth.

The Braves are now four games behind the Phillies. They sit two games ahead of the Padres and three ahead of the Rockies in the Wild Card. Neither team played tonight. Mike Minor and Roy Halladay face off Tuesday night.