Utley’s Homer Diminishes Redding’s Outing
Posted by Amanda Orr, Sat, August 22, 2009 11:34 PM | Comments: 11
2009 Recaps, Posts
In the second, the Mets took a 1-0 lead on Omir Santos’ RBI single. J.A Happ was not electric, but that was all he allowed in seven innings. He gave up eight hits and walked two, but stranded runners. The Mets abandoned seven men on base and were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, thanks to Happ’s composure and poise. He does not get ruffled when batters reach base.
While Happ stranded runners, Redding barely allowed any. Redding has killed the Phillies over the years, including shutouts and one-hitters. He was just as controlling today. In five scoreless innings, he allowed one hit and walked three. Because of a high pitch count (81) and a previous injury, Jerry Manuel decided to pull him after five. It worked out for the Phillies.
Pat Misch, who replaced Redding, walked Shane Victorino to lead off the sixth inning. He left a 1-1 fastball middle-in to Utley, who knocked it into the right field seats. The two-run shot gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead, and they didn’t look back.
The Phillies extended the lead on back-to-back doubles by Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz. Carlos Ruiz’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning made it 4-1.
With a three-run lead headed into the bottom of the ninth, it was Brad Lidge time. Blowing eight saves and having an earned run average over seven this season, save situations haven’t been easy for Lidge. But, Lidge showed his 2008 form with a 1-2-3 save, his 24th of the year. To start the inning, Lidge struck out Daniel Murphy; it was his 700th career strikeout and it set the tone.
Cory Sullivan chased a slider in the dirt and Ruiz fired to first on the drop third strike to end the game. The Phillies took game two of the series, 4-1. There were plenty of Phillies fans in attendance to witness the victory, including Phillies Nation’s buses of fans, who represented Philadelphia well with plenty of “Let’s go Phillies!” chants.
Posts: 0 Amy
Yay! I am so glad that Chase hit because I love him but I am even more glad to see that Lidge got another save under his belt. This by no means means that he is back, but I do like to see him looking a bit like his old self. And congrats to him for his 700th strike out!!
Posted: 12:16 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Nick
theres room for only one manuel haha GO PHILSSSSSS!!!!!
Posted: 12:17 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Repeat!
I agree. Lidge still has ways to go, but the 123…. 9th was nice. The Mutts are playing harder than I thought some of the Phillies might have expected. Tomm it’s O.Perez vs Pedro. Perez is struggling like Redding was. But like Redding, he has pitched well against the Phils career wise. I expect that Ben Frans will replace Ibanez in left tomm.
Posted: 12:34 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Happ is just a pitcher that battles. He did not have great command in his last two outings but keeps the team in the game. He also got alot of help from JRoll tonight. That diving stop, keeping the ball in the infield was huge. Plus that broken bat scoop with a runner going home was huge. Great D tonight from J.
Posted: 01:45 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Repeat!
I was so wrong about Wagner maybe being a changed man. Did you see him in the Phils pen talking w/Durbin in the 7th or 8th inning? What a country @ss little weasle!. That was totally unprofessional and a slap in the face to Mets fans. I know Boston claimed him off waivers, but it still was wrong. The other day he said “I’ll never go back to the Phillies. Once was more than a enough.” I may be phras. a little here,but you get the point. He’s like Lex Luther from Superman II. I hope he blows out his arm tomm or in his 1st app in Boston. Wagner is a real douche…………
Posted: 02:36 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Mazinman
While I enjoyed Utley’s homer greatly as well as Happ’s continuing ability to get out of trouble, Lidge’s 123 ninth was the best thing of the night. Its vitally important that he turn around his season soon. Maybe this will be the start of it? *Crosses Fingers*
Posted: 04:06 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 EastFallowfield
These Mets seem to play harder than when they did when they had all their “stars”. Hmm….
Posted: 07:27 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian
J.A. Haap = NL ROY 2009
Posted: 07:51 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 psujoe
Lidge was around the plate with his fastball instead of missing by 18+ inches which has been his biggest problem. If he can spot the fastball and get ahead in the counts he’ll be fine. A nice outing for him last night. Great job by Happ again. Kid is mentally tough.
Posted: 09:21 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Brooks
Right on Brian! Happ is the top ROY candidate!
Brad Lidge earned his name early on last year – “Lights Out”. Appearence after appearence he came in and 1-2-3 blew away the competition. Only in the last third of the season did he start to show signs similar to what Tug and Mitch Williams displayed… always an ‘interesting’ time.
Last night, 1-2-3 for Lidge- is it too much to hope for? If we go into the post season without a legit closer, we are heading there in a worse position than last year. Let’s see how September works out..
Go Phils!
Posted: 09:57 AM on August 23, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
ROY! ROY! ROY! ROY!
Posted: 12:18 PM on August 23, 2009