By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Manager Manny Acta's expression said it all after watching his Nationals lose to the Phillies, 13-11, at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night. He had a stunned look on his face and couldn't believe his bullpen blew a four-run lead. The skipper felt having 11 runs on the scoreboard was good enough to win the game.
Not the Nationals. Not this year.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Nats had an 11-7 lead, but relievers Garrett Mock and Joel Hanrahan couldn't get the job done.
With Mock on the mound, Shane Victorino hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Pedro Feliz and make it 11-8. After Chase Utley singled in Jimmy Rollins, Hanrahan entered the game and couldn't find the strike zone. Hanrahan walked both Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth on 10 pitches. Raul Ibanez then came to the plate. Hanrahan felt he had no choice but to throw a fastball to Ibanez. Hanrahan paid the price as Ibanez hit a grand slam. It was Hanrahan's third blown save of the season.
"I hope I don't wear out this word, but, again, it was deflating," Acta said. "Our offense just battled all day and scored enough runs. We played so hard for eight innings to score enough runs. You lose the game in one inning, it just tough for the whole team."
Nats crush five homers, but fall to Phils....
No comments:
Post a Comment