Phillies Split Games With Mets, Getting Shut Out by Santana
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Newly-acquired 1st baseman Mike Sweeney got 2 hits and an RBI on Friday amidst a Phillies 6 run eighth inning rally against Mets relievers Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano. Mets starter 23 year old lefthander Jonathon Niese held the Phils to 1 run and 4 hits over seven innings in a duel with Joe Blanton. Down 2-1, the Phils sent 11 hitters to the plate in the eighth and emerged with a 7-2 lead after reliever Chad Durbin put down the Mets in their eighth. But relievers Danys Baez and J.C. Romero nearly blew things after the Phls comeback as the Mets scored in the ninth on recent callup Mike Hessman’s pinch-hit 3 run homer. With 2 outs, Brad Lidge came on with a strikeout to end the game as the Phils won the opener by a 7-5 score.
On Saturday, lefthanders Cole Hamels and Johan Santana locked up in a classic 0-0 pitchers duel for six innings before rightfielder Jeff Francoeur led off the seventh against Hamels with a homer. Up until the homer, Hamels was tossing a 5 hit, 11 strikeout masterpiece for the Phils. But the Phils offense short-circuited in this one and the 1 run stood up as closer Francisco Rodriguez shut down the Phils over the final 1 2/3 innings in a Mets 1-0 shutout.
With their split of the weekend games, the Phils remained 2 games behind the NL East division-leading Atlanta Braves who also their games with the San Francisco Giants. The 3rd place Mets, remained 8 games behind the Braves and 6 games beneath the Phils and 1 game up on the 4th place Marlins.
On Friday, young lefthander Niese again handcuffed the Phils, just as he did on April 30 with almost the same stats — 1 run, 4 hits, 7 strikeouts, but this time he walked 5 but still, Phils could only plate a single run against him. But when the Mets bullpen took over in the eighth, things began to happen for the Phils — Sweeney’s 2 hits, with centerfielder Jayson Werth, rightfielder Ben Francisco, 2nd baseman Wilson Valdez, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and 3rd baseman Placido Polanco all coming up big in the 6 run outburst. And Lidge came on big again, coming in with 2 outs in the ninth after Hessman’s 3 run shot put the Mets within striking distance. Durban was credited with his 3rd win against 1 loss with Lidge nailing down his 13th save in 17 opportunities.
On Saturday, both Santana and Hamels were masterful, although, until the seventh inning in appeared that Hamels had much the better of the going. But Francoeur homered to rightfield on Hamels’ 2nd pitch of the seventh to provide the run the Mets needed. Santana held the Phils hitless through 5 2/3 innings only issuing 3 walks. But leftfielder Raul Ibanez reached with 2 out in the sixth on a third strike-wild pitch and Polanco followed with a single. However, Santana eased out of the mild jam getting Sweeney to ground out. Later in the game, Ibanez singled to extend his hitting string to 14 games. The Phils threatened again in the seventh on Werth’s leadoff double. But Werth was nabbed at 3rd base on a fielder’s choice grounder and, with 2 out, Valdez reached on a bunt single. However, Santana got pinch hitter John Mayberry Jr. to ground out to end the threat.
The Phils loaded the sacks with 2 out in the eighth getting 2 hits off of Santana and receiving a free pass from closer Francisco Rodriguez. But Rodriguez got pinch hitter Ross Gload to ground out to end the threat. Rodriguez then went clean on the Phils in the ninth to nail down the win.
One can view the highlights of both games on the AP game recaps for Yahoo by clicking here and here.
To view the scores of all of Friday’s and Saturday’s games, click here and here.
The Phils hope to come away on Sunday with 2 of the 3 games as ace Roy Halladay is opposed by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. The Phils have an off-day on Monday, followed by a 3 game series with the L.A. Dodgers to complete the 6 game homestand.
To view the schedule of all of Sunday’s games, click here.
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