Kendrick, Martinez Bring Phillies Doubleheader Sweep of Mets
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Phillies starters Kyle Kendrick, recently called up from the minors, and Pedro Martinez both went deep in their games on Sunday in besting Mets starters John Maine and Tim Redding. Both Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson registered saves as Kendrick and Martinez bring the Phillies a doubleheader sweep of the Mets by scores of 5-4 and 1-0.
With the twin wins, the Phils increased their lead in the NL East to 6 1/2 games over 2nd place Florida who lost to Washington and to 7 1/2 games over 3rd place Atlanta who pounded St. Louis. The Phillies lead over the fourth place Mets reached 20 games as they took 3 of the 4 game series.
Here’s a huge breath of relief. After Saturday’s disaster where the Mets fought back from 4 runs down and pummelled Madson in the ninth for a 10-9 comback win, a lesser team would still be reeling. But the Phils came back determined despite a continuing sluggish offense.
The Phillies were very fortunate to get 2 excellent, deep 7 1/3 and 8 inning pitching performances by Kendrick and Martinez respectively and fortunate that Brad Lidge was able to survive a 2 run, 3 hit Mets ninth inning to save the first game win. I say fortunate because in game 1 the Phils left 8 runners stranded, 6 of them in scoring position including bases jammed with 2 outs in the seventh and in game 2 displayed no offense at all.
Kendrick opened game 1 in grand style striking out the side in the first inning. He would not record another strikeout in the game, although he recorded 14 groundball outs. Meanwhile, 1st baseman Ryan Howard doubled in the 1st Phils run in the first inning. Rightfielder Ben Francisco, acquired with lefthander Cliff Lee and who subbed as Jayson Werth rested, solo homered to leftfield in the fourth inning and, the Flyin’ Hawaiian, centerfielder Shane Victorino clubbed a 2 run homer to centerfield in the seventh as Kendrick carried a 4-0 shutout into the eighth inning.
The Mets cut lead to 4-2 in the eighth as centerfielder Angel Pagan stroked a 1 out single to centerfield and 2nd baseman Anderson Hernandez followed with a 2 run bomb also to centerfield. The Phils came back in the bottom of the eighth to add an insurance run as pinch hitter Matt Stairs doubled to left centerfield and pinch hitter Andy Tracy drove him in with a single to rightfield. That run proved to be the game-winner as Lidge was rocked for 2 Mets runs in the ninth.
Kendrick, pitching in place of injured lefthander J.A. Happ, went 7 1/3 innings to record his 1st win of 2009. He threw 106 pitches giving up only the 2 eighth inning runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and getting the 3 first inning strikeouts and giving up Hernandez’s eighth inning homer. John Maine threw 57 pitches in 3 innings while giving up 1 run and 2 hits, walking 1 and striking out 2. Reliever Tobi Stoner gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in three innings and reliever Lance Broadway went the final 2 innings and gave up what turned out to be the winning run.
In game 2, the Phillies had zero offense outside of the first inning where a leadoff walk to shortstop Jimmy Rollins and 2 singles, including 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s RBI single, providing the only run that Martinez needed to beat the Mets. The Phils were fortunate that Pedro got through the first two innings unscathed. He then retired 12 of the next 13 hitters before facing a 2 on, 2 out situation in the seventh from which he also escaped without damage. Martinez then eased out of a 2 out eighth inning runner on 2nd base coaxing a fielder’s choice grounder to end the inning. Then Madson came on in the ninth to give up a 1 out single but to end the game with a strikeout and a line-out to 3rd base.
Martinez threw, get this, 130 pitches in his eight innings while shutting out the Mets to continue unbeaten with a 5-0 record. He walked 1 and struck out 7. Mets’ starter Redding threw six fine innings giving up only the single run and 3 hits. He fell victim to lack of offensive support. He threw 103 pitches while walking 2 and striking out 3.
For the scores of all of Sunday’s games, click here.
The Phils have Monday off before entertaining the Washington Nationals for 3 games beginning with Tuesday’s opener as ace lefthander Cliff Lee opposes Garrett Mock in a re-match of last week’s game in D.C.
For all of Monday’s and Tuesday’s games, click here and here.
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