Utley’s Homer Diminishes Redding’s Outing
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.
