Phillies Lose Mets Final in Extra Innings
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Phillies starter Adam Eaton had his second straight effective appearance, 1st baseman Ryan Howard and 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz both homered, and ace Cole Hamels bunted safely advancing a runner in a pinch hit role but it wasn’t enough as Mets’ leftfielder Angel Pagan laced a two-out walkoff single to centerfield off of Tom Gordon (for a change) which scored shortstop Jose Reyes with the winning run as the Mets upended the Phillies in 12 innings by a 4-3 score.
The Phillies, without shortstop Jimmy Rollins for the second straight game, managed 9 hits, were walked 9 times, stranded 13 runners and squandered scoring opportunities in the third, sixth, seventh, eighth and eleventh innings. Mets starter John Maine was uncharacteristically erratic walking 5 Phils in his six innings of work.
For six innings, Eaton and Maine dueled with Maine getting the better of the going despite walking 5 Phils. Eaton, meanwhile is looking more like the Eaton worth the $24 million the Phils signed him for before the 2007 season.
Rightfielder Ryan Church got the Mets on the board first with a two-out, two run single to left-centerfield in the fourth inning. In the sixth, centefielder Carlos Beltran singled to right to drive in the third run as the Mets led 3-0.
3rd baseman Pedro Feliz solved Maine and went yard to lead off the seventh inning. After catcher Chris Coste pounded a double to deep left and Greg Dobbs was sent to pinch hit for Eaton, reliever Pedro Feliciano replaced Maine and walked Dobbs. But then Feliciano proceeded to strike out the side — centerfielder Shane Victorino, subbing shortstop Eric Bruntlett and 2nd baseman Chase Utley all chasing third strikes.
In the eighth inning, Aaron Heilman replaced Feliciano and 1st baseman Ryan Howard greeted him by blistering a 450 foot solo blast to centerfield for the Phillies second run. Then Heilman, who was pounded by the Phillies in game 1, got into a first and third, none out jam. But Feliz grounded out while driving in the tying run. Then Coste chased a Heilman third strike and pinch hitter Jayson Werth grounded out to end the inning.
Rollins led off the ninth in a pinch hit role and went down swinging against closer Billy Wagner who shut down the Phils after walking Chase Utley.
Meanwhile, the Phillies bullpen held the Mets to 3 scattered hits and 2 walks between the seventh and eleventh innings.
In the Phillies’ eleventh inning, Werth opened with a single and pitching ace Cole Hamels bunted to the catcher but reached safely with Werth moving to 2nd base. Then, when shortstop Bruntlett tried to duplicate the bunting feat, he struck out on a bunt foul. Then Utley grounded into a doubleplay to end the inning.
All of this led to shortstop Jose Reyes’ twelfth inning two-out double and Pagan’s walkoff single off of losing pitcher Tom Gordon.
Jose Sosa was awarded the win having pitched 1/3 of the 11th inning getting Feliz to ground into a fielder’s choice to retire the side.
All told, while the Mets won the game, it was not a convincing win, but a win it is nonetheless. Eaton continues to improve over his 2007 season performance and the bullpen improves with every game. It’s just that I don’t see Tom Gordon being around much longer — not with these 2 quick early season losses and nothing left in the tank. The Phillies offense, potentially the league leader, continues to slumber as Howard continues to rack up strikeouts.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thhursday’s games, click here.
The Phils next entertain the Chicago Cubs for a three-game weekend series at Citizen’s Bank Park. Friday’s game one features Brett Myers vs Jason Marquis.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Friday’s games, click here.
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