Martinez’s Blunder Put Phillies Down Far Too Early
CITIZENS BANK PARK — It’s not often that a game turns on the second play of the day, but that’s what happened to the Phillies in Wednesday’s get-away game of the three-game series, which the Mets took 7-4.
A botched double play grounder changed the entire complexion of the game.
Angel Pagan led off the game with a single off Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick.
Ruben Tejada followed with a sharply-hit ground ball to Michael Martinez at short. It was tailor made for a double play. Except Martinez bobbled it. Everybody was safe.
“He tried to make the play too quick,” said manager Charlie Manuel.
That opened the flood gates for Kendrick and the Phillies in the first inning. The next batter was David Wright, who singled to load the bases. Lucas Duda then reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Pagan. After Kendrick struck out Jason Bay, Nick Evans drilled a three-run homer to left to make it 4-0 Mets.
That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, which progressed at a glacial pace of three hours and 41 minutes.
Had the Phillies turned a double play, the fielder’s choice grounder would have instead ended the inning.
“Nothing you can do,” said Kendrick. “Michael’s not out there trying to make errors.”
Martinez was subbing for the injured Jimmy Rollins, and making just his second start of the year at shortstop. Martinez has started 24 games at second and third.
“He hasn’t played a lot of shortstop,” Manuel said, cutting his utility infielder some slack. “That’s gonna happen. The kid’s got good hands. He’s a good defender.”
It was a 27-pitch first inning that doomed Kendrick, who dropped to 7-6 on the year. He tossed 80 pitches over just four innings of work.
“One of those days,” he said.
And probably his last start for a while. Kendrick will most assuredly be headed back to the ‘pen when Cole Hamels comes off the disabled list on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Phillies head for a well-deserved day off. They better enjoy it, because they don’t get another until Sept. 15. Most of the players will be spending it at Shane Victorino’s charity fashion show. But, the off day is a chance for the Phillies to re-charge and re-load for the stretch run.
Hard to get riled up over a loss like this when the club is 83-45, and holding a six-and-a-half game lead in the NL East. But it was nine-and-a-half on Aug. 6…and it could be down to five by Friday when the Phillies host Florida. The Braves have two more in Chicago before opening a weekend series at the Mets on Friday.
Just sayin’.
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