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Marlins’ Willis Shuts Down Phils Offense

Scorecard

Dontrelle Willis pitched a masterful game as he shut down the Phillies offense on three hits. He commmanded grounds outs throughout the game as the Phillies were unable to put a man on second base until the ninth inning when there were two outs.

The Phils defense did not help put the team in a position to win. A two-base throwing error by Bell set up the Marlins first run. Abreu lollygagging in right let Jeff Conine secure second base on a little liner. Conine scored later because he was in scoring position.

Once again, the bullpen gave up a run.

As poor as the defense was, the team needs to score runs to win. Lidle pitched okay. Had the offense put some runs on the board, he would have remained in the game.

The Pros
In the fifth, Lidle did a good job keeping Pierre close at first. He kept stepping off, throwing over, and holding the ball. He also tossed a pitch out. He was doing everything correctly, yet, Pierre still stole the base.

Tim Worrell threw five strikes and no balls in his relief role. He retired the one batter he faced. It is good to see him have a positive outing.

Corey Lidle pitched four decent innings after a rough first inning. He was pulled for a pinch hitter to generate offense.

The Cons
Bell’s error (third of season), led directly to an nearned run which put the Phightins behind early.

Bell followed up his poor defense with a poor AB in the third.

Abreu’s lackadaisical play in right led to another run. Conine blooped a ball into right. Abreu took numerous extra steps after he picked it up. Those steps took him away from second. Conine, the gritty veteran, dug in an took the extra base. Being in scoring position, he scored later.

Burrell, although he kept his hitting streak alive, had a couple swings which are reminiscent of his previous two years. Swinging at the outside pitch with that sweeping stretch is downright ugly.

Burrell needs to lay off this pitch.

The bullpen (Cormier) gave up a run in relief. This trend needs to end.

Wheels
Wheels again misspoke. In the fifth, as he babbled on about Luis Castillo, he mentioned that Castillo had flown out to right field in the third. That, of course, is not accurate. Castillo had flown out to left.