Hey Phillies, put away those brooms.
Pitching Performance
Looking to save his team from a sweep and from falling into a tie for first place, Johan Santana came to play. He got into a little bit of trouble early, allowing a run in the first inning when Ryan Howard singled in Chase Utley.
In the third, Howard got to Santana again, knocking a solo home run to deep left field. Santana ended up throwing seven 1-3 innings, scattering five hits. He walked three and struck out six, en route to his 13th win of the season.
This is why he gets the big bucks. He threw 116 pitches, 71 of which went for strikes. Can't ask for much more than that. Well done, Johan. We love you.
Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes combined to finish out the eighth inning. Feliciano retired Ryan Howard and Stokes got Pat Burrell on one pitch to end the inning.
Luis Ayala allowed a run in the top of the ninth, but was able to close it out without further issues. He allowed two hits, the one earned run, and struck out one.
You better like that role, Ayala. It looks like you're going to be there for the rest of the season.
Offensive Output
The Mets were down by one run before they even came to bat, but they rallied for three runs in the first inning off of Cole Hamels. Carlos Beltran put the Mets on the board with an RBI single, driving in Ryan Church, who doubled earlier in the inning. Carlos Delgado followed that up with a two-run single to center, starting his huge night.
I love when the Mets score early, but I always fear that they won't score again the rest of the game. Thankfully, that wasn't the case tonight.
In the third, Delgado continued his hot night, with a solo home run deeeeep to right field. In the fifth, Delgado continued his hot night, with a solo home run to deeeeep to right field.
Yes, I know it's the same sentence twice, with only one word changed. But hey, it works.
The Mets added an insurance run in the 8th. After a Damion Easley triple, Brian Schneider hit a sac-fly to right, pushing Easley across.
Notice Luis Castillo was MIA all day. Thank goodness.
The Rest of the Story
Both leadoff hitters went 0-5.
Delgado picked up his 100th RBI.
Game Ball: Johan Santana and Carlos Delgado.
