With so many contenders for the title "Worst Game of the Season" we'd be hard-pressed to single out any one in particular, but last night's debacle is clearly a leading contender.
Staked to a one-run lead right out of the gate thanks to J-Roll's lead-off home run in the home half of the first, Kyle Kendrick did his best impersonation of a career AAA pitcher and surrendered the lead as soon as he could. He was gone after four miserable innings and though I wasn't watching the game at that time, I have no doubt he received quite an ovation as he departed for the showers. After the game, Kendricks said he couldn't locate the ball or find any rhythm. No kidding.
The worst was yet to come, however.
Given new life when they rallied from a 6-1 deficit with five runs in the fifth inning, the Phils' bullpen immediately imploded and handed the lead right back to Atlanta, surrendering six more runs as Braves pummeled the Phils for their eighth victory in their last nine games against the locals.
It was a sorry performance in a sorry year spread out over many players, mostly pitchers.
