Relief pitcher Antonio Bastardo started tonight for the Phillies, Bastardo has been dealing with velocity problems this spring. Phillies really need him to work that out because he is a very important piece to this Phillies bullpen, Bastardo will likely be the setup guy to closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Bastardo only pitched 1.1 innings tonight and did not allow a hit, Bastardo only pitched 8 pitches tonight.
Closer Jonathan Papelbon came into pitch early tonight in the third inning, Papelbon allowed three straight hits in the bottom of the third including a Curtis Granderson two run home run. Papelbon would get taken out of the game with two outs in the inning, Papelbon pitched a lot of pitches in the inning, probably more than the Phillies wanted him to.
Kyle Kendrick came into pitch in the bottom of the third inning with two outs and he allowed two runs, the Yankees would get four runs in the innings and pull within one of the Phillies.
Kendrick allowed two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and that gave the Yankees the lead.
Phillies got some early hits in the first inning tonight in Tampa Florida and Hunter Pence would eventually bloop a single to get the Phillies on the board first tonight. In the second inning Juan Pierre blooped a little single to center field to give the Phillies the early 2-0 lead, than guess what? Juan Pierre got caught stealing again, the catcher had to pick the ball out of the dirt to throw it too second base and Juan Pierre still could not beat that throw. He is just one horrible base stealer.
Juan Pierre was caught stealing 17 times last season. The Phillies were caught 24 times last year as a team. Pierre has speed but he is a terrible baserunner.
The Phillies would get another run in the top of the third off of a Jim Thome RBI double, Rollins scored on the play and he was running very well around the bases. Phillies were not done after that, they would eventually get the bases loaded and Carlos Ruiz would hit a bases clearing double off of the left field wall. That would end the night for Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda.
The Phillies scored a run in each of the first three innings of the ball game.
Placido Polanco got a RBI single in the top of the fifth inning and that would tie the game up at seven.
Yankees would regain the lead in the bottom of the seventh off of a solo home run, ground rule double, and a RBI single. Lisalberto Bonilla was pitching at the time for the Phillies and he will start his season down in the minor leagues.
Phillies had a chance to cut into the 10-7 Yankees lead in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded and only one out but John Mayberry Jr. grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the inning.
The Yankees would get some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth off of a Pete Orr error at shortstop and a two run home run.
This may have been the worst baseball game I have ever seen in my life.
Some Other Notes
Juan Pierre had a four hit game tonight.
Phillies used a total of seven pitchers tonight.
Next spring training game for the Phillies is tomorrow afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.
We are just six days away from opening day.
