Phils Lose Opener to Mets in Slugfest …
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The Philies slugged 5 homeruns, 2 by Jimmy Rollins (8 HRs), but fell apart in the field in the 6th inning committing 3 errors as the Mets broke up a 4-4 game with 5 runs and held on to win 9-7 on Tuesday. The Mets thus increased their lead over the Phils in NL East race to 7 1/2 games.
Tom Glavine (9-2) was touched up for single Philly runs in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th innings as Rollins solo homered in the 1st and 5th innings and Aaron Rowand (8 HR, .287 BA) solo homered in the 2nd and Bobby Abreu (8 HR, 47 RBIs, .287 BA) in the 3rd. Glavine was pulled after 4 1/3 innings. Met reliever Chad Bradford (3-2) retired the side in the 5th and was awarded the victory as the Mets followed with their 5 run 6th inning.
The Mets chipped for a run in the 1st and got back-to-back homers from
Carlos Beltran (18 HRs, 51 RBIs, .295 BA), a 2 run shot and a solo blast from Carlos Delgado (19 HRs, 45 RBIs) in the 3rd inning.
At this point, a word about what apparently separates the men from the boys; why the Mets seem to be the better team at this point.
The Mets capitalize on opportunities the Phils don’t. Michael of Phillies Nation expresses the point aptly regarding Tom Glavine being pulled after Jimmy Rollins’ 2nd homer of the game;
It was also the first time in Jimmy’s career he hit two homers in a single game and it appeared to put the Mets on the ropes.
It was at this point that Tom Glavine’s streak of 27 consecutive starts lasting at least six innings ended. He had thrown 110 pitches and just walked the bases loaded after a double by Chase Utley when Mets Manager Willie Randolph yanked him in favor of Chad Bradford. Despite the chance to improve on the dismal RISP stats, Rowand popped up on the first pitch he saw and David Bell grounded out to quickly end the threat. This was precisely where the Phillies had to break the game open because with the way the ball was flying out of the park the Phils could ill afford a close game.
Sure enough, the next pitch from Ryan Madson to David Wright in the top of the sixth left the park and the Mets regained the lead and momentum.
In the 6th inning, the Mets got the solo blast from David Wright (12 HRs, 45 RBIs, .335 BA) and parlayed the 3 Phillies errors into 4 more runs. Losing pitcher Ryan Madison (6-4) was tagged for 8 of the Mets’ 9 runs in his 5 full innings of pitching before being knocked out in the 6th inning.
In the 8th, David Dellucci (3 HRs, 12 RBIs) brought the Phils close with a with a 3 run pinch hit homer off of reliever Aaron Heilman. Billy Wagner (3-0, S13) shut the door on the Phils in the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his 13th save in 16 opportunities and seal the victory for the Mets.
Today, it’s Orlando Hernandez (4-5) going for the Mets vs Brett Myers (4-2) for the Phils as the Phils hope to even the series.
For all of the scores, recaps and box scores in both leagues, click here.
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