I thought you couldn’t hit home runs in Citi Field?
The New York Mets (31-25) beat the Philadelphia Phillies (33-23) by a score of 6-5.
Johan Santana did not have his best stuff, surrendering four (4!) home runs to the Phillies. Santana pitched seven plus innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs. All the runs scored on home runs.
After being staked to a 3-0 lead, Santana gave up back-to-back two-out solo home runs to Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez. In the sixth, Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer to left field.
With only 88 pitches, Santana came out to start the 8th inning and let up a solo shot to Chase Utley. Jerry Manuel went out to get him, and he was not too excited to come off the mound.
Santana induced 14 fly balls tonight.
Bobby Parnell pitched to one batter, letting up a hit. Pedro Feliciano came in to relieve him and on four pitches, got three outs -- a double play off the bat of Howard and a ground ball from Ibanez.
Francisco Rodriguez entered for the ninth, nursing a one-run lead. A leadoff single by Jimmy Rollins got Mets fans heart rates up, but a strikeout and fielder’s choice (thanks to a perfect takeout slide by Rollins) put Greg Dobbs at the plate with two outs and a runner on first. K-Rod got him swinging to end the game.
The Phillies hit four home runs, but the Mets countered with three of their own.
In the bottom of the second inning, David Wright broke a 100 at bat homerless streak with a solo home run to left field, putting the first run on the board in the game.
The next inning, Carlos Beltran hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Mets an early 3-0 lead. The Mets loaded the bases after Beltran’s shot, prompting the Phillies to get the bullpen working. But J.A. Happ responded and avoided further damage.
Fernando Tatis started the sixth inning off with a double to left and moved to third after a snap throw by Carlos Ruiz went into centerfield. A Ryan Church ground ball to first followed and Howard threw home to get Tatis at the plate. (At least that’s how home plate umpire Lance Barksdale saw it. Replays showed he was safe.)
Omir Santos singled after Church, putting runners on first and second with one out. Santana came to the plate and after fouling off a bunt, he pulled his bunt back and ripped a double down the right field line, plating Church to tie the game at 4-4.
Alex Cora later ripped a two-out single up the middle, giving the Mets a one run lead.
In the 7th inning, Church crushed a two-out home run to straightaway centerfield. The ball landed in the home of the Home Run Apple. This sixth run for the Mets ended up being the game winner.
What. A. Game.
And it came on just the right day as it was my cousin Jonathan’s 9th birthday yesterday. He’s a Mets fan, much to the chagrin of his Yankee-fan mother. But he has seen the light and is a true Mets fan! Let’s go Mets and Happy Birthday Jonathan!