Phillies Pound Rockies on Happ’s Complete Game Shutout
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Phillies rookie lefthander J.A. Happ was masterful in going the full nine innings on Wednesday pitching a 4 hit shutout and the offense belted 3 homers off of Colorado’s lefthander Jorge De La Rosa. The Phillies pounded the Rockies by a 7-0 score on Happ’s complete game shutout to break a 3 game losing skid and to even the series at 1 game apiece.
With the win, their 60th against 45 losses, the Phils upped their NL East division lead over 2nd place Florida to 6 games as the Marlins lost again to Washington. Atlanta climbed into a tie with Florida after beating San Diego. The Mets remained 9 1/2 games off of the pace despite pounding the St. Louis Cardinals.
Happ’s brilliant effort put forward a powerful argument for hid remaining in the rotation should three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez be brought in to start in the major leagues.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, rightfielder Jayson Werth and 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz all homered after 1st baseman Ryan Howard’s first inning RBI single to center put the initial Phillies run on the board.
Happ was outstanding throwing 127 pitches and striking out a career-high 10 hitters while walking 2 to gain his 8th win vs 2 losses. The only real threat he faced was in the third inning when opposing pitcher De La Rosa singled to leftfield and leadoff hitter centerfielder Dexter Fowler doubled to left centerfield putting runners at 2nd and 3rd base with 2 outs. Happ then struck out 2nd baseman Clint Barmes swinging to end the threat. This was the only time that the Rockies had 2 hitters reach in an inning against the rookie lefthander.
Losing pitcher De La Rosa, who won 8 of his previous 10 starts, fell victim to the homerun ball as Feliz solo homered and Rollins belted a 2 run shot to stake Happ to a 4-0 lead after two innings. Rollins homer, his 13th of the season, was his 3rd in 3 games.
Werth’s 2 out, 3 run shot in the fifth, his 23rd homer of the season, put icing on the cake. De La Rosa, who threw 77 pitches was pounded for 7 runs on 10 hits in five innings. Reliever Josh Fogg came on to pitch the final three innings for Colorado only allowing 2 Phils to reach, one on a single and the other on a walk.
Every Phils hitter had at least 1 hit, including Happ who collected his 1st career double off of Fogg in the eighth inning. Feliz and catcher Carlos Ruiz each garnered 2 hits.
In related news, AP Sports writer Dan Gelston reports in the recap for Yahoo sports:
Phillies RHP Brett Myers (hip) is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Thursday in Clearwater, Fla. Myers is hopeful of a late-season return. “If he can pitch like I know he can, he’s going to help us,” Manuel said.
For the scores of all of Wednesday’s games, click here.
In Thursday’s final, newly acquired and newly annointed ace lefthander Cliff Lee hopews to pitch the Phils to a series win opposing Aaron Cook for the Rockies.
For all of Thursday’s games, click here.
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