Mets Take First Two From Phillies Behind Santana, Perez
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The Phillies offense sputtered and floundered against the Mets without their catalyst, MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins who has now missed 10 games with his sprained ankle, and gave precious little support to starting lefthanders Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer as the Phillies dropped the first two games of their series to the Mets by 6-4 and 4-2 scores.
While Hamels held the Mets to 2 runs through seven innings on Friday as the New Yorkers clung to a 2-1 lead, Santana was, well Santana was Santana over seven, holding the Phils to 1 run, 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s lead off solo shot in the seventh, on 2 hits while striking out 10 and walking none.
However, the Mets broke the game open with 3 runs in the eighth after Hamels gave up 2 hits and an intentional walk to load the bases. JC Romero was brought in to rescue the situation but he was greeted with ground out run scored followed by an RBI double by leftfielder Angel Pagan and an RBI single to catcher Brian Schneider as all 3 runs were charged to Hamels. Romero then got a ground out and strikeout to end the inning.
In the Phillies eighth, they nearly came all the way back as catcher Carlos Ruiz and substitute shortstop Eric Bruntlett both started the inning with singles. Santana was lifted for reliever Aaron Heilman who was greeted by Greg Dobbs, pinch hitting for Romero, who went yard with a 3 run blast to narrow the Mets’ lead to 5-4. Heilman then got rightfielder Geoff Jenkins on a fly out and retired centerfielder Jayson Werth on a ground out. Then, lefthander Pedro Feliciano replaced Heilman and struck out Chase Utley to end the inning.
The Mets scored an insurance run in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly off of Brad Lidge and Billy Wagner put the lights out on the Phils with a one-two-three inning. Santana got the win, Hamels was charged with the loss and Wagner recorded his 3rs save.
3rd baseman David Wright and catcher Brian Schneider were hitting stars for the Mets in this one. Wright had a perfect 4 for 4 game including a first inning RBI double and a third inning RBI triple. Schneider went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Rightfielder So Taguchi, Utley and 1st baseman Ryan Howard were all struck out twice by Santana among his 10 strikeouts.
On Saturday, the Mets opened with 2 runs on Jamie Moyer in the first inning as David Wright doubled driving in both runs. But Moyer held the Mets off the board after the first and through the sixth inning. Meanwhile, the Phils got 4 hits and were recipients of 5 Oliver Perez walks but couldn’t push anything across through six innings against Perez and reliever Duaner Sanchez who recorded the final out of the sixth.
In the seventh inning, shortstop Jose Reyes went yard for a 2 run homer off of reliever Ryan Madson to up the score at 4-0.
Chase Utley once again struck in the Phillies seventh inning with another solo shot with two out, his 2nd homer of the series off of reliever lefthander Scott Schoeneweis.
In the eighth, the Phillies mounted their only substantial threat of the game as they loaded the bases with one out. Carlos Ruiz then singled off of reliever Pedro Feliciano, driving in leftfielder Pat Burrell with the 2nd run. But then Feliciano struck out Jenkins and Werth to end the inning. Once again in the ninth, Billy Wagner put the Phils down in order as Utley flied out, Howard popped out to 3rd and Burrell struck out.
The Phils left 12 on base in this one and Howard struck out 3 more times, 5 times in the first 2 games bringing his seasonal total to 26 strikeouts in 80 plate appearances over 18 games. Projected over the entire season, that’s roughly 225-235 strikeouts depending on which calculation (at-bats or per-game) one uses.
AP Sports writer Rob Maaddi rpeorts on the Howard’s strikeouts during the series and quotes Howard for Yahoo sports;
Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. He’s batting .182 with 26 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. Howard heard plenty of boos after he fanned for the third time.
“Obviously, I’m not comfortable and I’m not seeing the ball well,” Howard said. “Once I get comfortable, I’ll be all right.”
The winning pitcher was starter Oliver Perez with Moyer charged with the loss and Billy Wagner registering save number 4.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Friday’s and Saturday’s games, click here and here.
The Phillies hope to salvage one game in Sunday’s final, Adam Eaton, with a career undefeated record against the Mets, is opposed by Mike Pelfrey.
Following the Mets series, the Phillies travel to Denver for a two game rematch on Monday and Tuesday against last season’s division championship rivals, the Colorado Rockies.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on Sundays’ games, click here.
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