The Mets have now won five in a row, and four straight against Philadelphia, as they beat the Phillies by a score of 4-2 on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.
Oliver Perez made the start for the Mets, lasting 5 2-3 of an inning, all scoreless, and allowing only four hits. Perez, again, struggled with his control, walking five batters, but also tallied seven strike outs on the bump. He also threw one wild pitch. He needed 108 pitches to get through his start, 66 for strikes. Perez struck out Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell a combined four times on Saturday.
Another wild day for Perez. If he could just stay in control of all his pitches for a decent string of starts, could you imagine what he could do? Luckily, nothing came of his five walks as the Phillies left seven runners on with Perez on the mound.
The Mets went through a cast of pitchers today, needing six relief pitchers to finish out the game. With two runners on and two outs in the sixth inning, and Jimmy Rollins coming to the plate as a pinch hitter, Duaner Sanchez entered the game and got Rollins to ground out to first to end the inning. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the seventh inning, allowing a two-out solo home run to Chase Utley for the Phillies first run of the game. Schoeneweis also struck out one batter.
This was Utley's second home run in as many days against the Mets. Luckily, both have been solo shots. This guy is good. Sanchez is looking good, even though he only faced one batter. Schoeneweis, the forgotten bullpen arm. He was a bit rusty today.
The eighth inning was a tense one for the Mets as Joe Smith came out to start the eighth inning and promptly walked Burrell. He then induced a ground out from Pedro Feliz, which allowed Burrell to move to second. Pedro Feliciano then entered the game for the Mets. After some very lengthy at bats, Feliciano allowed a single to Greg Dobbs and walked Eric Bruntlett to load the bases. Feliciano left in favor of Aaron Heilman to face Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz lined one into left, and Angel Pagan broke back and did not get a good jump on the ball and couldn't get to it. He made a diving attempt, but smothered it into the ground allowing a run to score, charged to Smith. Heilman recovered nicely, getting back to back strike outs of Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth.
I hope everyone had enough antacids to get through that inning. Smith looked all right, but this is the second time in three days Feliciano has come on and not allowed a run. Bad read by Pagan, who didn't get a good jump, went the wrong way, and then attempted a dive instead of playing the ball in front of him and possibly having a play at the plate with the slow footed Burrell at third. One bad thing against Pagan this season. Great rebound by Heilman. I admit I was a bit scared, but the two straight strike outs with the bases loaded is mammoth. Great stuff.
For the third straight game, the Mets got on the board in the first inning.
Jose Reyes, obviously not feeling any repercussions from last night's collision, led off the game with a double down the third base line. Ryan Church followed that up with a line drive to right that So Taguchi couldn't handle and fell in for a single. With David Wright batting, Reyes stole third base without a throw, his third of the season. Wright followed this up with a double to center field, easily scoring Reyes and bringing Church home all the way from first base.
Another hot start for the Mets. They're taking advantage of the pitcher not being in his groove yet, and snagging a few quick runs for the lead before the other team even takes the field. I like this tenacity.
The Mets were held in check by Jamie Moyer the rest of the way, until Moyer was removed in the sixth inning. Ryan Madson entered the game for the Phillies and walked the second batter he faced in Luis Castillo. After a Endy Chavez pinch-hit ground out, Reyes came to the plate and crushed a two-run home run deep to right field.
That home run was huge, both in terms of distance and impact on the game. It ended up being the game winner and was absolutely jacked 20 rows deep into the right field stands. After the home run, Reyes and Carlos Delgado had a nice high five / dance on the top step of the dugout. I'm so happy the old Reyes is back.
Numbers: Reyes: 2-4 (2B, HR), 2 RBI, 2 runs...Church: 2-4, 1 run...Wright: 2-4, 2 RBI...Top 3 of the Mets order: 6-12...Middle 3 of the Mets order: 0-12...Bottom 3 of the Mets order: 3-9...Mets pitcher's K's: 11...GIDP: 2...Mets LOB: 5...
Game Ball: Perez, Wright and Reyes.
Beardless watch: 8-2.
