Phillies Win, Avoid Sweep by Mets, Kendrick Wins 3rd
|
|
|
|
|
The Phillies avoided a series sweep by the Mets with a 5-3 win. They also avoided a deeper hole while remaining 5 games behind NY and remained 2 above .500 for the season as Rookie Kyle Kendrick won his 3rd game since being called up from the minors and continues to give the club the kind of boost that lefthander Cole Hamels gave them late last season.
The Phillies also gained a game on the Atlanta Braves who lost a 6-5 extra-inning game to the Florida Marlins.
The Mets scored first with a run in the 1st inning on catcher Paul Lo Duca’s RBI Single. The Phils knotted the game in the 2nd inning as winless Mike Pelfrey issued a 2 out walk to leftfielder Pat Burrell who then scored on an RBI double to right by 3rd baseman Greg Dobbs.
In the 3rd inning, pitcher Kendrick led off by getting on and taking second on third baseman David Wright’s throwing error. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who had been 1-14 for the series, followed with a 2-run homer to rightfield to put the Phils up by 3-1.
The Phils could have scored more in the 3rd. Rightfielder Shane Victorino, who was 3 for 4 with 2 stolen bases and a homer for the game, followed Rollins with a single past shortstop. With one out, Victorino stole 2nd base. 1st baseman Ryan Howard was walked. Then centerfielder Aaron Rowand ground into a fielder’s choice advancing Victorino to 3rd, with Howard out at 2nd on the play. But then Pelfrey retired the side getting Dobbs to line out to centerfield to end the threat.
The Mets narrowed the lead in the 4th inning on centerfielder Carlos Delgado’s solo homer to right.
The score remained 3-2 until the 7th inning.
Losing pitcher Pelfrey left after the 5th having tossed 103 pitches. The Mets bullpen was solid except for reliever Aaron Heilman who gave up 3 hits and the Phillies’ 2 insurance runs in the 7th. With 2 out in the inning, Victorino solo homered to rightfield. Then Al Star 2nd baseman Chase Utley tripled to right and Howard was intentionally walked. Rowand then singled to centerfield scoring Utley. Heilman then struck out Burrell to end the inning.
The Mets scored their final run which was charged to reliever Mike Zagurski in the 9th. Pinch hitter Ruben Gotay singled off of Antonio Alfonseca after Zagurski had given up a single and a walk. Alfonseca was credited with his 6th save in 7 opportunities since replacing the injured Brett Myers as closer.
For the scores, boxscores on this and all of Sunday’s games, click here.
Hopefully, the Phils can begin to bring their act back together out in Texas where they meet the slumping Houston Astros for 3 games through July 4th. The Astros have lost 7 of their last 10 games and have the 3rd worst record in the NL. Veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer who seeks his 8th win is opposed by Woody Williams for the Astros in the series opener.
Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi reports on the current status of Phillies injured pitchers;
Reliever Tom Gordon, on the disabled list with a strained right rotator cuff, will begin a rehabilitation assignment on Wednesday with single-A Clearwater. The Phils are hoping Gordon (1-1, 4.82 ERA) will be able to join the big-league club after the all-star break on July 13.
Freddy Garcia (1-5, 5.90), recovering from a right shoulder strain, will begin tossing today, the club said.
There is no timetable for starter-turned-closer Brett Myers (1-2, 5.50) to return from a strained right shoulder, but manager Charlie Manuel is hopeful it will be around July 13. “He should be close around that time,” Manuel said.
For the scores, boxscores on this and all of Monday’s games, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |