Well, the Phils 3 game debacle against the New York Mets mercifully came to an end with yesterday 5-4 Mets victory.

As a result, the Phils are back down at the .500 level and now sit 9.5 games behind the Mets.  The Mets, as a result, are now sitting with the 2nd best W-L mark in baseball at 42-23, with the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers with the best mark at 43-24.  The Mets actually lead in W-L percentage though by .646 to .640 for Detroit.   The AL Central Chicago White Sox are next in line behind Detroit and the Mets with a 41-25 mark and a .621 W-L percentage.

Once again, the Mets lit up another Phillies starter early; this time it was losing pitcher Cory Lidle (4-6) in the 1st as they charged off to a 4-0 lead.  Endy Chavez (.297 BA) drove in a run with a double and was later followed by a 3 run homer by David Wright (14 HRs, 50 RBIs, .335 BA).

The Phils came back in their 2nd inning with a solo homer by  Pat Burrell (18 HRs, 50 RBIs), his first of two off of Met starter and winner Steve Trachsel (4-4) in the game.  Later in the inning, Sal Fasano (3 HRs, 9 RBIs) doubled in Ryan Howard (22 HRs, 54 RBIs, .289 BA) — 4-2.

The Mets chipped in a run on a sacrifice fly in the 5th and the Phils got a 2 run homer from Burrell in their half of the 5th to bring the score to 5-4.  Both bullpens shut down the opposition as both starters finished 6 innings.  The Mets pen held the Phils hitless over the final 3 innings while Phils relievers gave up 2 hits and 2 walks. Billy Wagner (3-0, S14) was credited with the save.

Today, the Phils entertain the AL East last place Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the first of a three game series as Cole Hamels (1-1) goes against James Shields (2-0) for the Rays. 

The Phils had best put their hitting shoes on and Hamels had best rev up his best pitches lest the Phils fall below .500 ball. 

Just a couple of notes on the Phillies pitching;

The ERA of Philadelphia’s starting staff is an NL-worst 5.43. The team’s bullpen has a major league-best 3.09 ERA.

“We’re good enough to be in every game, but bad enough not to win,” Lidle said after pitching six innings and giving up all of the Mets’ runs in Thursday’s 5-4 defeat.

While 2 of the 3 games were close, “close is no cigar.”  And close does not a division championship or wild card berth make.

It’s time for the Phillies to make some consistent moves — upward, offensively, defensively and with good starting pitching if they are to salvage this season and make it into something memorable rather than derisive free-fall.

For all of the scores, recaps and box scores in both leagues, click here.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 16th, 2006 at 9:17 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.