Phillies Sweep Mets on Blanton’s Masterpiece, 2 Homers
|
|
|
|
|
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins led off the first inning by pounding a homer to leftfield off of Mets’ ace lefthander Johan Santana to put the Phils up by 1-0. From there, Santana and Joe Blanton engaged in a classic pitcher’s duel for the ages for seven innings, only marred therafter when 2nd baseman Chase Utley reached Santana for a 2 out solo shot. Santana was excellent, but Blanton was ever better. After Chan Ho Park wiggled out of a 2 on, 1 out eighth inning jam, which he inherited from J.C. Romero, by getting pinch hitter Fernando Tatis to ground into a doubleplay, closer Brad Lidge came on in the ninth to end it by striking out the side. The 2-0 win completed a Phillies sweep of the Mets thanks to Blanton’s masterful performance.
Having swept the Mets, the Phils maintained a 1 game lead in the NL East over the 2nd place Florida Marlins who again beat Pittsburgh. Both the Mets and Atlanta, who lost to Washington, dropped to 4 games back in the division.
Blanton was masterful retiring 15 of the first 17 Met hitters he faced. The only serious challenge he faced was in the sixth when the Mets loaded the bases with 1 out on 2 walks which sandwiched a bunt single by Santana. But Blanton, who was throwing ground balls throughout his 7 1/3 innings, got 3rd baseman David Wright to ground into an inning-ending doubleplay to shortstop.
Jimmy Rollins wasted little time in putting the Phils on the board 1-0 on Santana’s 2nd pitch of the game. Rollins was 2 for 3 for the game with a walk in his other plate appearance. He is now 7 for 14 since returning to the lineup. And Utley added insurance in the sixth inning with a 2 out solo homer on an 0-2 offering from Santana. The Phils displayed little offense against Santana aside from the 2 solo homers.
Looking at Blanton’s line for the game; 111 pitches no runs, 4 hits, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. He threw 10 ground balls vs 6 flies. He was ahead in the count consistently throughout and was simply brilliant in winning his 5th game vs 4 losses.
Santana was excellent as well, but the 2 homers did him in as he threw 101 pitches and gave up 2 runs, 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 in losing his 7th game against 9 wins.
Blanton was replaced with 1 on and 1 out in the eighth inning first by lefthander J.C. Romero, who hit shortstop Alex Cora and then by Chan Ho Park who figured in manager Manuel’s maneuvering when the Mets sent Tatis to pinch hit. Good thing he went to Park, as it took him 2 pitches to induce Tatis to hit into an inning-ending doubleplay.
From there, closer Brad Lidge took care of business Big-Time by striking out the side on 14 pitches to earn his 16th save. The Lidge we’ve seen in his last 3 save opportunities, 2 against the Mets, is the Lidge that we know and love from 2008.
In related news, theAP recap for Yahoo sports notes;
Phillies’ left-handed pitcher Scott Eyre was activated from the disabled list before Sunday’s game, with Sergio Escalona returned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. … Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez, voted to the first All-Star game in his 14 career seasons, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Reading on Monday, and is scheduled to play five innings. Manuel said he would like to see Ibanez get 10-12 at-bats before activating him.
For the scores of all of Sunday’s games, click here.
Following the Mets into Citizens Bank Park will be the Cincinnati Reds who play 4 games, followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates for 3 followed by the 3 day All Star break on July 13-15th.
In Monday’s opener with the Reds, ace lefthander Cole Hamels hopes to get back on track. He is opposed by Johnny Cueto for the Reds.
For all of Monday’s games, click here.
del.icio.us |
digg |
Furl |
Reddit |
YahooMyWeb |