After squeaking out 2 runs over 8 innings against Johan Santana, the Phillies demolished a Billy Wagner-less Mets bullpen. Entering the 9th down 5-2, the Phillies tallied 6 runs to take the lead 8-5. Brad Lidge gave up 1 run on his way to his 22nd save in as many tries. Joe Blanton got a “No Decision” in his first start for the Phillies giving up 5 runs over 6 innings. Blanton pitched well except for spots in the 3rd and 6th innings in which he gave up a 2-run homerun in each. Sadly his nerves won’t be completely gone since he still has to start a game at home. Hopefully fans will realize that he is a better option than Adam Eaton, and Brett Myers and welcome him.
The only optimistic looking thing going into the top of the 9th was the fact that when the bullpen doors opened Duaner Sanchez came out instead of Billy Wagner. Jayson Werth lead off the inning with a single to center. Greg “pinch hit” Dobbs then came up to the plate for Pedro Feliz. He hit his league leading 19th pinch hit of the season. Shane Victorino hit yet another single to load up the bases. After that, the Mets decided to bring in submariner Joe Smith.
It was the next play that basically turned the tide of the game in the Phillies direction. Carlos Ruiz grounded to short where Jose Reyes (the Mets’ wunderkind) who aptly made a horrendous play. Reyes bobbled for a second before trying to start a double play at 2nd himself. Well in his hurry to touch before the Flyin’ Hawaiian (Shane Victorino) got there, he actually got his cleat stuck inches from the bag. The ump was right on the play and made the correct call of safe at 2nd. In Reyes’ shock and argument, he forgot to throw the ball to first to at least get one out on the play. Jayson Werth scored, and the bases were still loaded with nobody out.
After throwing 5 pitches, Joe Smith was pulled for Pedro Feliciano. The Phillies countered by pinch hitting So Taguchi for pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins who was going to bat for the pitcher Chad Durbin. Taguchi had not had a hit in a while, so it was a tough call to make, but boy did it pay off. Taguchi doubled over the head of the right fielder scoring both Dobbs and Victorino. Jimmy Rollins then also doubled in Ruiz and Taguchi. Rollins would score later in the inning on a ground ball by Ryan Howard.
Joe Smith actually shouldered the loss while only throwing 5 pitches with Feliciano taking a blown save (I’m not sure how that works). The bullpen effort by Rudy Seanez, JC Romero, and Chad Durbin was what kept the Phillies in the game. Durbin received the win by pitching a scoreless 8th.
