Marlins Finally get the Best of Moyer

Prior to last night’s game, Jaime Moyer had the Marlins number.  He had made ten starts against them in his career, winning all ten.  That string of success came to an end last night, as the Marlins beat the Phillies 8-2, trimming the Phillies lead in the NL East to just 1.5 games over the Fish.  Moyer, who has been one of the Phillies most consistent starters this year, struggled with his command as he allowed two runs over five innings of work. 

To his credit, Moyer battled and kept the Phillies in the game, but once again the offense has turned cold.  Though Marlins starter, Josh Johnson pitched a good game, the Phillies had more than enough chances to take control of the game.  They had at least one base runner in each of the six innings that Johnson pitched, but they couldn’t come up with a clutch hit to break things open.  The Phillies best chance at mounting a comeback came in the seventh inning.  Shane Victorino hit a questionable two-run homer — replays showed the ball was clearly foul – cutting the Marlins lead to 4-2.  After Chase Utley was hit by a pitch, Ryan Howard struck out to end the inning and the Phillies threat.  As a team, the Phillies are hitting just .198 in their last four games.  That’s not getting the job done.

Last night’s game has me starting to believe in the value of a “clubhouse leader”.  By all accounts, Aaron Rowand provided that type of presence.  Without him on the roster, it’s starting to become clear that this team misses that type of leadership.  They look almost lifeless, as if they’re waiting for someone to provide a spark instead of providing one themselves.  They are a talented group, but I’m starting to fear that a lack of leadership has really magnified the normal ups and downs a team goes through.  They need to figure things out, because time is starting to run out.