Ohlendorf breaks ice to tame Phillies
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel made his point so emphatically, he found himself thumping his hand on a clubhouse desk.
Injuries can’t be an excuse for not winning or not hitting. The two-time defending NL champions still have talent enough to win, despite being without one-third of their lineup, their manager insisted. Even if there’s been no proof of that against last-place Pittsburgh.
Ross Ohlendorf became the third Pirates starting pitcher in as many days to win for the first time this season, limiting the slumping Phillies to five hits over seven innings during a 2-0 victory Friday night.
The seemingly ageless Jamie Moyer was masterful at age 47 in his 625th career start, but two infield singles by the Pirates that barely traveled 90 feet combined and the pitcher’s throwing error led to Philadelphia’s fourth loss in five games.
Ohlendorf (1-6) was 0-8 in 16 starts since Aug. 18 before striking out eight and walking one against a lineup that was missing the injured Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz and was also without Shane Victorino, who was rested.
Despite losing to the Pirates for the second straight night, the Phillies are 41-37, the same record they had at this stage last season.
“We’ve got to keep our heads above water. We got to stay in the race and it’s up to us to do that,” Manuel said of a team that has seven players on the disabled list. “In the past, we’ve been fortunate enough to do that and that’s what we’ve got to do again. This is a big test for us.”
Still, he said, the Phillies’ current struggles should make everyone understand that winning isn’t automatic, regardless of a team’s previous success.
“This game’s hard. This is not an easy game, man,” he said. “Just because you hit yesterday doesn’t mean you’ll hit tomorrow.”
Before the game, Manuel said two Phillies needed to get hot and carry the offense. But it didn’t happen against Ohlendorf, who hasn’t allowed an earned run over 14 innings in his last two starts.
“Before, I really struggled the second time through, the third time through the lineup,” Ohlendorf said. “The last two [starts], I continued to make good pitches. That’s the big difference.”
The right-hander got key outs when needed, retiring Ben Francisco on an excellent sliding catch by right fielder Lastings Milledge with two on in the sixth and pinch-hitter Victorino on a grounder with a runner on second an inning later.