There's blowing a save, and then there's blowing a three-run lead the way Matt Lindstrom did Friday night.
Lindstrom allowed seven runs in the top of the ninth inning, including six with two outs. He walked in one run and gave up a two-out grand slam to Shane Victorino followed by a solo home run to Chase Utley. It was the first loss suffered this year by the Marlins' bullpen, but this one fell squarely on Lindstrom. His ERA jumped from 1.50 to 9.45.
"It's a deflating feeling," Lindstrom said. "This is going to be a test for me."
Lindstrom hadn't pitched in five days. He had missed most of spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, but the team last week believed he was close to being back to his old self.
PHILLIES 7, MARLINS 3: RHP Josh Johnson pitched seven sparkling innings, three hits and no runs. Then RHP Matt Lindstrom took the mound in the ninth inning and the game quickly changed. He gave up seven runs, including six after two outs, for the Marlins' biggest loss of the season. After getting off to an 11-1 start, the Marlins have lost four straight.
