PHILADELPHIA — Veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon has contributed to the resurgence of the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen, and not just with his pitching.
Papelbon, 2-1 with 18 saves and a 1.44 ERA this season, spends the early part of every game in the clubhouse, studying the hitters on TV, or in the dugout, watching them up close and conferring with that day’s starting pitcher.
Then, Sandberg said, “He goes out there (to the bullpen) and talks the game about the hitters and different things, which now (the relievers) do the whole time they’re out there. So it’s been good. He has a different way of watching the game.”
Coincidence or not, the Phillies bullpen leads the major leagues in ERA (1.08) since June 3. That group had the NL’s worst ERA (4.95) over the team’s first 36 games.
NEXT: Doubleheader — Braves (RHP Ervin Santana 5-5, 4.15 ERA) at Phillies (RHP Roberto Hernandez 3-6, 4.41 ERA); Braves (RHP David Hale, 3-2, 2.72 ERA) at Phillies (Sean O’Sullivan 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Roberto Hernandez, the starter in the first game of Saturday’s double-header, lost 4-0 to Miami last time out, his fourth loss in his last five starts. He went six innings against the Marlins, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six and walking three. He beat the Braves earlier this season, and in his career is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against Atlanta.
-RHP Sean O’Sullivan was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make a spot start in the second game of Saturday’s double-header. O’Sullivan, 3-6 with a 4.31 ERA in 15 starts for the IronPigs, has previous major league experience with the Angels, Royals and Padres, going 10-16 with a 5.89 ERA in 50 games, including 37 starts. He has never faced Atlanta.
–RHP Kyle Kendrick was asked to take one for the team Friday against Atlanta, with the bullpen depleted after working seven scoreless innings in Thursday’s 14-inning victory over Miami and a double-header against the Braves coming up Saturday. He allowed four runs on five hits in the first two innings, including a three-run homer by Freddie Freeman in the first, but followed that with six scoreless innings, in which he allowed four hits. He finished with eight strikeouts and two walks while throwing a career-high 123 pitches. He has struggled in the first inning this year, pitching to a 9.00 ERA in that inning, and he is now 3-8 this season, 3-13 dating back to Aug. 11, 2013
