Phils manager Jim Fregosi needed a righthanded batter who was cool in the clutch. But he had fewer choices than a Moscow consumer. That helps explain why the Mets got that final out - dealing the Phils their fifth loss in six games, and spoiling another impressive outing by the rejuvenated Bruce Ruffin.
Usually, Fregosi would have used Lindeman. But Lindeman had to start the game, because the regular leftfielder, Wes Chamberlain, was still hampered by a swollen big toe. Fregosi might have turned to Randy Ready. But Ready hasn't played since he hurt his back in Atlanta a month ago.
Ricky Jordan? He was already in the lineup, in part because John Kruk has a bad knee. Wally Backman? He doesn't hit lefties well. Sil Campusano? He hasn't hit anyone well, and he had started the game anyway, playing the position that Len Dykstra hopes to reclaim. Rod Booker? A light-hitting lefty.
So Fregosi turned to Ron Jones, a sweet-swinging lefty. But he hadn't hit against a lefthanded pitcher since he rejoined the team on June 10. Fregosi had no choice. Jones dug in against Franco - and whiffed to end the game.
That little subplot says it all.
But this helps also: The Phils have scored zero runs for Ruffin in his last 15 innings as a starter. His one slip last night - a hanging slider that Hubie Brooks drilled into the upper deck - gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Somehow, it doesn't seem entirely fair.
The Phils did score three times for Ruffin, when he hurled eight scoreless innings back on June 21. By the way - and let this one sink in slowly - that date was the last time the Phils won two games in a row.
Ruffin said last night, "I'm just out there trying not to give up runs, regardless of whether we score one or 10. But eventually we'll score a lot, and I just hope I'm out there when we do."
