Rodrigo Lopez, Phillies Thump Mets in Series Opener
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The Phillies called up 33 year old minor league pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, who had not thrown in the Majors since Tommy John surgery 2 years ago, to face the Mets. Lopez pitched like he knew his way around holding the Mets to 2 runs on 6 hits in 5 1/3 innings as the top of the Phillies lineup showed some pop at home at last pounding Livan Hernandez for 7 runs through three innings as Lopez and the Phillies thumped the Mets in Friday’s series opener by a 7-2 score.
With the Phillies win and Florida’s loss on Friday to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Phils took a 1 game lead over the Marlins in the NL East division. The Mets dropped to 2 games behind and into a 3rd place tie with the Atlanta Braves who edged the Washington Nationals.
The only bothersome thing about this game is that after the Phils scored their 7 runs in the first three innings, the offense went back to sleep against 3 Met relievers as only 1 Phil reached after the fourth inning — centerfielder Shane Victorino’s 2 out single past 3rd base in the eighth inning.
Starter Rodrigo Lopez left the game to a standing-O with 1 out in the seventh, having given up the Mets only 2 runs of the game. Small wonder about the ovation. All Lopez did was hold the Mets to 3 hits through six innings, before 3 seventh inning doubles and the 2 Met runs did him in. He walked 1, struck out 4 and throwing up a lot of pop-ups and groundballs among his 96 pitches. With the Phils holding the 7-2 lead the rest of the way, Lopez notched his 1st win in a couple of seasons.
AP sports writer Rob Maaddi noted for Yahoo sports reactions to Lopez’s performance by the pitcher himself, and by manager Charlie Manuel:
“I’m pretty happy, pretty excited,” Lopez said. “Being out for two years, it was a long way to go, a long battle. I didn’t know it would take this long.”
The right-hander was sidelined since having elbow ligament replacement surgery 23 months ago.
Lopez was a two-time 15-game winner with Baltimore, but inconsistency and a major injury derailed his career. He filled in for injured rookie Antonio Bastardo, who replaced Brett Myers when he had hip surgery.
“He’s the same guy I saw in the American League,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He knows how to pitch.”
The top of the Phils lineup accounted for 7 of the Phils’ 11 hits and
4 of their 7 runs as leadoff hitter shortstop Jimmy Rollins and 2nd baseman Chase Utley each had 2 hits and 2 RBIS, Victorino, hitting number 2, went 3 for 5, rightfielder Jayson Werth led off the third with a solo homer, his 16th dinger and leftfielder Greg Dobbs chipped in with a first inning 2 run single.
Reliever Chan Ho Park replaced Lopez with 1 out in the seventh and excited the Citizens Bank Park crowd by retiring the side on 2 strikeouts. But Park had some rough sliding in the eighth inning giving up 2 singles and walking 1. But he benefitted from a doubleplay grounder to shortstop by 3rd baseman David Wright in-between the 2 hits and escaped the inning unscathed.
The ball went over to Ryan Madson who made short work of the Mets in the ninth, retiring the side on 10 pitches to end the game.
In related news, AP’s Maaddi also reports:
Phillies LF Raul Ibanez had his rehab assignment postponed for the third straight day. Ibanez, sidelined by a groin injury, was eligible to come off the disabled list Friday. It’s uncertain when he’ll return. Ibanez saw the team physician before the game and said he was “progressing”…
For the scores of all of Friday’s games, click here.
On Saturday, veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer opposes Fernando Nieve as the Phils hope to start stringing some victories together before All Star break.
For all of Saturday’s games, click here.
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