NEVER WAS the gap between first place and last place more evident than in the Phillies' 6-1 victory over the Nationals last night, when a pair of fielding plays by shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Nationals second baseman Ian Desmond shed some light on the difference between their respective squads.
With a runner on second base and one out in the second, Rollins fielded a grounder by Wil Nieves deep at short. Instead of rushing to attempt an unlikely play at first, the Phillies' Gold Glover held on to the ball rather than risking an errant throw that would allow Desmond to round third and score.
Desmond later was thrown out by Carlos Ruiz on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Livan Hernandez, and two batters later, Joe Blanton escaped the inning without allowing a run.
Fast-forward to the sixth.
With runners on first and second and one out in the sixth, Desmond took a flip from Cristian Guzman, stepped on second base, then pivoted and rushed a throw that sailed wide of first baseman Adam Dunn. Instead of two outs and men on first and third, or an inning-ending doubleplay, Raul Ibanez rounded third and scored to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
It was one of many of blunders that turned a well-pitched game from Hernandez into a laugher - Jayson Werth's second grand slam of the season came against Jason Bergmann in the seventh - that improved the Phillies to 84-60 and lowered their magic number to 11.
"They made three or four mistakes tonight; three, I think, real big ones," manager Charlie Manuel said. "They made some bad baserunning mistakes that definitely helped us out of innings. But that's part of the game. That's usually what happens when you are losing games."
When Manuel labeled the Nationals a "second division" team in the wake of the Phillies' 8-7 loss in Washington last week, he did not mean it to be an inflammatory statement. Instead, he was expressing frustration at what he perceived to be his team playing down to the level of its opponents. If the Nationals took offense, they have a funny way of showing it.
Werth's 34th home run of the season, which came with two out in the seventh, was the Phillies' lone offensive highlight. For the most part, the Nationals' shoddy play dominated the night, beginning with a first-inning steal of home by Chase Utley that occurred when catcher Nieves made what proved to be an ill-advised throw to second on a two-out steal by Ryan Howard.
Manuel said afterward that he thought Nieves made the right decision in throwing to second base. But Howard had recorded six of his eight career stolen bases this season after shedding roughly 35 pounds since the end of last season. Last night, he improved to 7-for-7 after conferring with first-base coach Davey Lopes, and Utley scampered home for his 20th stolen base of the season.
"He said if you see something, go for it," Howard said of Lopes. "He just said be ready."
From there, the Nationals unraveled, and the Phillies were more than happy to take advantage.
With men on first and second and one out in the sixth, Justin Maxwell was doubled off at first base after Werth fielded a sharp line drive by Nieves and threw to Howard. With no outs and a runner on second in the seventh, Guzman laid down a bunt that Chan Ho Park fielded and threw to third to retire Pete Orr. Ryan Zimmerman then lined out to first base, where Howard caught the ball and made a diving tag of Guzman, who was sliding back into first.
"I don't think our defense gets enough credit, honestly," said Blanton (10-7), who allowed five hits and walked four, while striking out seven in six scoreless innings. "They get a lot of credit for their hitting, which is well deserved, but basically every spot we have out there is good on the defensive end, too. Especially when you get a game where you have a lot of runners on, great defensive plays help out a lot."
The Phillies came within one out of their third consecutive shutout, but righthander Tyler Walker saw his career-best scoreless-innings streak snapped at 14 2/3 innings when he allowed a two-out RBI single to Willie Harris in the ninth. Manuel had planned to use Brad Lidge, whom he pulled with the bases loaded and one out against the Nationals last week, as the closer in a save situation. Ryan Madson - who pitched the eighth inning - warmed up in the bullpen while the Phillies had a 2-0 lead in the seventh.
Werth's grand slam eliminated the save opportunity.
With a runner on second base and one out in the second, Rollins fielded a grounder by Wil Nieves deep at short. Instead of rushing to attempt an unlikely play at first, the Phillies' Gold Glover held on to the ball rather than risking an errant throw that would allow Desmond to round third and score.
Desmond later was thrown out by Carlos Ruiz on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Livan Hernandez, and two batters later, Joe Blanton escaped the inning without allowing a run.
Fast-forward to the sixth.
With runners on first and second and one out in the sixth, Desmond took a flip from Cristian Guzman, stepped on second base, then pivoted and rushed a throw that sailed wide of first baseman Adam Dunn. Instead of two outs and men on first and third, or an inning-ending doubleplay, Raul Ibanez rounded third and scored to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
It was one of many of blunders that turned a well-pitched game from Hernandez into a laugher - Jayson Werth's second grand slam of the season came against Jason Bergmann in the seventh - that improved the Phillies to 84-60 and lowered their magic number to 11.
"They made three or four mistakes tonight; three, I think, real big ones," manager Charlie Manuel said. "They made some bad baserunning mistakes that definitely helped us out of innings. But that's part of the game. That's usually what happens when you are losing games."
When Manuel labeled the Nationals a "second division" team in the wake of the Phillies' 8-7 loss in Washington last week, he did not mean it to be an inflammatory statement. Instead, he was expressing frustration at what he perceived to be his team playing down to the level of its opponents. If the Nationals took offense, they have a funny way of showing it.
Werth's 34th home run of the season, which came with two out in the seventh, was the Phillies' lone offensive highlight. For the most part, the Nationals' shoddy play dominated the night, beginning with a first-inning steal of home by Chase Utley that occurred when catcher Nieves made what proved to be an ill-advised throw to second on a two-out steal by Ryan Howard.
Manuel said afterward that he thought Nieves made the right decision in throwing to second base. But Howard had recorded six of his eight career stolen bases this season after shedding roughly 35 pounds since the end of last season. Last night, he improved to 7-for-7 after conferring with first-base coach Davey Lopes, and Utley scampered home for his 20th stolen base of the season.
"He said if you see something, go for it," Howard said of Lopes. "He just said be ready."
From there, the Nationals unraveled, and the Phillies were more than happy to take advantage.
With men on first and second and one out in the sixth, Justin Maxwell was doubled off at first base after Werth fielded a sharp line drive by Nieves and threw to Howard. With no outs and a runner on second in the seventh, Guzman laid down a bunt that Chan Ho Park fielded and threw to third to retire Pete Orr. Ryan Zimmerman then lined out to first base, where Howard caught the ball and made a diving tag of Guzman, who was sliding back into first.
"I don't think our defense gets enough credit, honestly," said Blanton (10-7), who allowed five hits and walked four, while striking out seven in six scoreless innings. "They get a lot of credit for their hitting, which is well deserved, but basically every spot we have out there is good on the defensive end, too. Especially when you get a game where you have a lot of runners on, great defensive plays help out a lot."
The Phillies came within one out of their third consecutive shutout, but righthander Tyler Walker saw his career-best scoreless-innings streak snapped at 14 2/3 innings when he allowed a two-out RBI single to Willie Harris in the ninth. Manuel had planned to use Brad Lidge, whom he pulled with the bases loaded and one out against the Nationals last week, as the closer in a save situation. Ryan Madson - who pitched the eighth inning - warmed up in the bullpen while the Phillies had a 2-0 lead in the seventh.
Werth's grand slam eliminated the save opportunity.
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