It's been a bad week for Phillies relief pitcher Pat Neshek. He was unable to pitch Tuesday night when the team needed a closer to tie down a 2-1 lead in the 9th inning. The save was blown by journeyman Juan Nicosio and the Phils lost to the Cubs. Neshek had not pitched in two days yet couldn't go.
Neshek could go yesterday afternoon in the final game of a four-game set at Wrigley Field. Neshek pitched the 7th inning and got rocked with a pair of long home runs, surrendering three runs. Luckily the Phillies held on for a 9-7 victory after blowing a 7-0 lead.
Neshek is a high maintenance diva but the Phillies knew that when they resigned him to a two-year contract. He should be traded after the season if the bullpen can be rebuilt. Right now, Hunter and Robertson are on the injured List. Neris and Morgan have been good but Dominguez has been inconsistent. Craig Kimbrel is on the radar after June 1st.
Aaron Nola got the quick hook yesterday by Gabe Kapler, not finishing the 6th inning. Nola had a 7-0 lead and gave up three runs, in the 5th. Nola has shown signs of being the Nola of old. The wind was blowing out at Wrigley Thursday afternoon so I'm cutting Nola some slack against the hard hitting Cubbies.
Speaking of Kapler, what with him and the bullpen? He uses Morgan for only one batter, then needs Neris to get four outs to tie down the game. It was almost deja vu as Neris nearly blew the 9th inning, Chicago ran out of position players and had to use a pitcher to pinch-hit. He promptly lined a double to left, setting up a second and third scenario with one out and the Phils barely hanging onto a 9-7 lead. To Neris' credit he got the last two outs without further damage. Blame Kapler for putting him and the team in that situation.
The Phillies split the series with Chicago. They are now 29-21 and still lead the Braves by 1 1/2 games. The club moves on to Milwaukee this weekend. The Brewers took two of three in Philadelphia last week.
Washington is dead. The Nationals are 10 games out of first place in the NL East. They are 19-31. They are getting healthier and still have the rotation of Strasburg, Scherzer and Corbin. Is it too late for the Nats?
Don't look now but the Yankees have caught and passed Tampa Bay in AL East. The Rays had been in first place all season. The Yanks blew by the Rays as the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox stalk second place, only 5 1/2 games out of first.
Minnesota continues to surprise in AL Central, holding off the Indians in what look as like a battle all summer. Houston is threatening to run away in AL West. The Dodgers are clearly the cream of the crop in national League West, and the Cubs, Brewers, Cards and the surprising Pirates are bunched in NL Central.
It should be an exciting summer!
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