Mets Rally From Way Back to Edge Phillies
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Phillies veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer coughed up 4 runs to the Mets in the first inning Saturday before retiring the 18 of next 19 hitters he faced before 1st baseman Daniel Murphy doubled with 1 out in the seventh. Meanwhile, the Phils piled on scoring 8 runs, including 3 homers, off of Mike Pelfrey to take an 8-4 lead. The Mets scored a run in the seventh inning but the Phils got it back in their seventh. The Mets came on to bomb Brett Myers and Chan Ho Park in the eighth. The Phils loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and Ryan Howard had a chance to put the game on ice but struck out instead. Then, after Ryan Madson got the first 2 outs in the ninth easily, Fernando Tatis, who always bombs the Phils, singled and 3rd baseman David Wright followed launching a 2 bomb as the Mets came all of the way back. The Phillies went down meekly in the ninth before show-boating closer Francisco Rodriguez as the Mets rallied from way back to edge the Phillies by a 10-9 score in an ugly, ugly game.
As a result of the loss, both the 2nd place Florida Marlins and 3rd place Atlanta Braves gained ground on the NL East division leading Phillies. The Marlins pummelled the Washington Nationals and are 5 games behind the Phils while the Braves edged St. Louis and are 7 games behind. With the win, the 4th place Mets are 18 games out.
This was an ugly game where the Phils registered offense both with the long-ball and with small-ball. But the bullpen let the Mets back to win a game which they were all but out of.
AP sports writer Dan Gelston recaps the game for Yahoo sports:
Ryan Madson threw a first-pitch changeup just to see if David Wright was swinging early in the at-bat.
Wright was definitely swinging early.
It was another bullpen meltdown for NL East-leading Philadelphia and a rare thrilling win for the way-back Mets, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
“It feels good to be successful and it feels good to win a close game,” Wright said.
Wright homered twice and matched a career high with six RBIs. He hit a two-run shot off Brett Myers in the eighth to start the rally that saw the Mets score five runs off the Phillies bullpen in the final two innings.
Yes, even the Mets have a chance against the back end of Philadelphia’s bullpen.
Madson (5-5) had retired the first two batters in the ninth before Fernando Tatis (4 for 5) singled. Wright then hit the next pitch into the left-field seats for his 10th homer of the season.
“It’s not a good feeling, but the next day you come out with the same attitude you had today,” Madson said. “The only time I’ve ever seen anybody be perfect was Brad Lidge last year and that was amazing.”
Pedro Feliciano (6-4) got the final out in the eighth inning for the win. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 31st save.
Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz all homered for the Phillies.
Wright’s homer in the eighth, his first shot since Aug. 5, made it 9-7. Myers and Madson gave up all five runs in the last two innings.
Trailing 9-8, the Mets wasted a chance to take the lead in the eighth after putting runners on the corners. Chan Ho Park retired pinch-hitter Cory Sullivan to end the threat and seemingly preserve the win for Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer.
While the Phillies are struggling holding leads, Moyer seems to have regained his form.
He rebounded from a four-run first inning to retire 14 straight in one stretch. Yanked from the rotation last month in favor of Pedro Martinez, Moyer made the most of his second straight start in place of injured rookie J.A. Happ.
Mike Pelfrey couldn’t hold the early lead or get that crucial third out.
With two outs in the second, Feliz hit a two-run shot that cut New York’s lead to 4-2. His 11th homer was Philadelphia’s 200th of the season in 140 games, the fastest they have reached that long ball milestone.
Pelfrey retired the first two batters in the third only to have Utley and Ibanez each hit their 31st homers. Ibanez pulled the ball into the right-field seats for a two-run shot that put the Phillies ahead 5-4.
Jimmy Rollins added run-scoring hits in the fourth and sixth that padded Philadelphia’s lead.
It just wasn’t enough. Madson stumbled when it mattered most.
“It’s why closers get paid more than anybody else in the bullpen,” Madson said.
Moyer threw 93 through seven innings giving up 5 runs on seven hits. He walked none and had no strikeouts while giving up centerfielder Carlos Beltran’s first inning 2 run shot.
Pelfrey threw 110 pitches in six innings giving up 8 runs on 10 hits while walking 1, striking out 3 and coughing up the 3 Phillie homers.
Mets’ closer Rodriguez struck out 2 while going clean on the Phils in the ninth for the save.
For the scores of all of Saturday’s games, click here.
In Sunday’s day/night doubleheader, Kyle Kendrick, recently called up from the minors, opposes John Maine in game 1. In the nightcap, Pedro Martinez goes against the Mets’ Tim Redding. The Phils have Monday off before entertaining the Washington Nationals for 3 games beginning on Tuesday.
For all of Sunday’s games, click here.
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