Happ Wins 1st MLB Game as Phillies Beat Braves
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The Phillies got to Jair Jurrjens for 4 first inning runs and scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Young rookie lefthander J.A. Happ won his 1st MLB game pitching 3 hit shutout ball for 6 innings enroute to a 6-1 win over the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies’ won and maintained their 1/2 game lead over the Mets who held on for a win over the Washington Nationals. The 3rd place Marlins pounded Houston to remain 5 1/2 games behind in the division. The 4th place Braves, also off on Monday to remain 18 behind. Meanwhile, the Mets and Brewers, who beat Chicago, remain deadlocked in NL Wildcard race.
The Phillies attacked Jurrjens right out of the starting block in the first inning. After shortstop Jimmy Rollins led off by grounding out to 1st base, Jurrjens walked 2nd baseman Chase Utley and rightfielder Jayson Werth successively.
Associated Press Writer George Henry recaps the Phillies scoring from that point for Yahoo sports;
Ryan Howard drove in the first run in Philadelphia’s four-run first inning, and Happ pitched six scoreless innings to help the Phillies earn their season-high sixth straight win… on Wednesday night.
They took a 4-0 lead in the first off Jair Jurrjens, using the rookie’s early control problems and his season-long difficulty in holding runners.
Howard, bidding to win his second NL MVP award in three years, has 29 RBIs in his last 21 games and 137 this season to lead the majors.
After Howard’s RBI single made it 1-0, the Phillies led 2-0 when Jayson Werth stole third and scored when catcher Brian McCann threw the ball into left field.
Carlos Ruiz’s two-run single ended Jurrjens’ 43-pitch inning.
Jurrjens (13-10) gave up four runs, five hits and five walks in five innings. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each stole a base for the Phillies, pushing Jurrjens’ season total allowed to 27, most in the majors.
Three walks in the first didn’t exactly help Jurrjens.
“I was trying to attack Jayson, but I lost the strike zone,” Jurrjens said. “I wasn’t getting the borderline calls because I was wild. It was a big, big mistake walking him.”
Pedro Feliz’s RBI groundout off reliever Blaine Boyer in the eighth made it 5-0. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs ended the scoring with his 12th homer, a solo shot off Boyer in the ninth.
Meanwhile, Happ was impressive in going six innings to notch his 1st MLB win. He threw 86 pitches, allowing only 3 hits while walking one and striking out 2. Between the third and fifth innings, he retired 9 of the 11 hitters he faced and then punched out the Braves on 10 pitches in his sixth and final inning of work.
AP’s Henry noted reactions from manager Charlie Manuel, and from Happ himself;
His performance made manager Charlie Manuel glad he chose Happ over struggling Kyle Kendrick.
“I didn’t know what I was going to get,” Manuel said. “He’s basically just looking for a chance.”
After relievers Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero got the Phils through the seventh and eighth innings Clay Condrey pitched the ninth and gave up Atlanta’s only run with 2 out on 2 singles with fielder’s indifference in-between.
Werth, who had 2 hits on Wednesday to go along with 3 hits on Tuesday, has 23 homers, 66 RBIs and an 11 game hitting streak going. He is hitting .283 in 124 games played and 435 plate appearances. He has struck out 105 times, 3rd on the club behind Howard and leftfielder Pat Burrell. But 2008 has been a career season for Werth and gives strong indication of what he is capable of when played on a regular basis.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
Ace lefthander Cole Hamels is slated for a lefties duel with 36 year old Mike Hampton in Thursday’s series final as the Phils hope for a sweep and try to build on their East division lead before their 3 game weekend series with the hot Marlins.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Thursday’s games, click here.
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