Phillies Walk to Win Over Mets
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New York Mets starter lefthander Oliver Perez looked like a world beater with a one-two-three first inning against the Phillies.
But then wildness which has followed Perez over the past 2 seasons set in and the Phillies literally walked away with a 5-2 win over the Mets behind 7 fine innings of pitching by starter, new acquisition Adam Eaton and air-tight relief by Antonio Alfonseca and closer Tom Gordon who was credited with his first save of the season.
In the Phillies’ 2nd inning with one out, Perez walked leftfielder Pat Burrell and 3rd baseman Wes Helms, struck out Aaron Rowand and then walked catcher Rod Barajas to load the bases. He eluded that jam as Eaton grounded out to end the inning.
Perez was not so lucky in the 3rd inning. The AP Yahoo sports report notes;
After getting two quick outs, he gave up a single to Chase Utley and walked four straight. Perez then plunked Rod Barajas with a 2-2 pitch, making it 3-0.
“We’ve been playing in the cold weather all year. I don’t see that as an excuse,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “It’s obviously a mechanical thing.”
That was all for Perez, who matched his career high for walks and threw only 32 strikes in 73 pitches. It was a strikingly sudden loss of command. He did not walk a batter in his first start, when he pitched seven strong innings to beat Atlanta 11-1. And he walked just seven in 25 2-3 innings in spring training.
The AP Yahoo sports report adds these comments about the Phils;
Still looking for their big bats to bust out, they drew 11 free passes in all but stranded 14 runners.
Philadelphia batters began the night leading the major leagues with 40 walks.
“We haven’t gotten a lot of our big boys hot. When everybody gets comfortable it’s all going to come together like clockwork,” third baseman Wes Helms said. “The big knocks will come.”
The last time New York pitchers walked at least 11 was against the Chicago Cubs on March 31, 2003, when they issued a franchise-record 12 free passes.
New York loaded the bases with none out in the fourth, but managed only one run on Moises Alou’s double-play grounder. Utley made a tough play at second on Alou’s hard smash and did well to turn it into two outs.
“Outstanding. Real big play in the game,” Manuel said. “It just goes to show you we can play fundamentally sound.”
Jose Reyes’ RBI single cut it to 3-2 in the fifth, but Reyes was caught stealing on a pitchout.
Jimmy Rollins, jeered throughout New York’s home opener Monday, tripled off Aaron Sele in the sixth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Shane Victorino that extended Philadelphia’s lead.
Aaron Rowand’s two-out RBI double in the seventh made it 5-2.
“Tonight was a perfectly played baseball game. We capitalized on their mistakes,” Helms said.
The Phillies executed. They scored enough runs, got seven solid innings from the starter and the bullpen held the lead. That’s something the team can get used to.
“We know we haven’t played as well as we’d like,” Gordon said. “We know we have the talent, and we believe in ourselves. We need to get back to the basics. Everything is small until it blows up on you. We just need to get back to where we feel comfortable. All of us have played this game and have to make the game as easy as possible without adding any extra pressure. The important thing is to have fun.”
Reliever Aaron Sele spelled Perez and struck out Eaton to retire the side and went on to pitch 4 1/3 innings in long relief giving up single runs to the Phils in the 6th and 7th innings.
Losing pitcher Perez’s line for the 2 innings was 3 runs on 1 hit with 7 walks and 2 strikeouts.
In the meantime, Eaton pitched a fine 7 innings only allowing the Mets 2 runs on 4 hits. Eaton walked 3 and struck out 4, he walked 1 hitter in each of 3 innings and walks accounted for neither of the Met runs. The AP Yahoo sports report adds this about Eaton;
Eaton (1-1) allowed four hits and three walks in his first win with the Phillies, who drafted him 11th overall in 1996. Signed to a $24.5 million, three-year contract in the offseason, he was tagged for eight runs — seven earned — and seven hits over 4 2-3 innings during his first outing of the year, against Atlanta.
The right-hander struck out five and has always enjoyed facing the Mets. He improved to 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four career starts against New York.
“For whatever reason, I’ve pitched pretty well here. I don’t know what it is,” Eaton said. “I kind of feed off the crowd a little bit. They’re a little more antagonistic.”
With the Phils up 3-0, the Mets got a run in the 4th inning after loading the bases. Centerfielder Carlos Beltran scored on a double-play ball. The Mets added their 2nd and final run in the 5th as shortstop Jose Reyes singled scoring Jose Valentin.
Mets relievers closed down the Phils in the 8th and 9th innings only giving up 1 walk in each inning.
The scores, boxscores and recaps for this and all Wednesday games can be found here.
On Thursday, the Phillies send veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer to oppose Met’s ace Tom Glavine as the Phils hope to ride out of New York having won 2 of 3 games.
All of the scores, boxscores and recaps for Thursday’s games can be found here.
On Friday, the Phils return home to play a 3 game series with the Houston Astros with the Mets following Houston to Philly for games on Monday and Tuesday.
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