Had 'Em All the Way, Harry: Phillies 4, Yankees 3 (11)

by dajafi on May 24, 2009 6:18 PM EDT

So I might as well admit up front that I missed the last two innings of this game. Right now, in fact, I should be on my way to a family function in Huntington Valley, but I screwed up a car reservation, then seemingly managed to borrow a friend's car until I got in the front seat, saw that "the Club" was on the steering wheel, called my friend, and found out that while his wife had been able to give me the car key, he had the only key to the Club with him at work, a half-hour subway ride away. A big-time FAIL on my part, and from finding out about the car reservation, to watching Brad Lidge squander another ninth inning lead, to running around Brooklyn in the heat and rain playing out the rest of the story it was one of the less fun hours I can remember.

After all that was done, though, I checked in to find that the Phillies had come away with one of their more improbable wins of the 2009 season, an extra-inning thriller in the Bronx that capped a taxing but successful 8-2 road trip and preserved the team's NL East lead at 1.5 games. Kudos go to Carlos Ruiz, who was on his game all day with three hits--including the game-winning RBI double in the 11th--and a series of defensive gems, and Clay Condrey, who pitched out of deep trouble in the 10th inning and held on in the 11th.

Cole Hamels battled a stacked Yankees lineup and New York ace CC Sabathia through six tough innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits--including a broken-bat home run by Mark Teixiera that alone would almost justify demolishing the $1.2 billion Stadium and starting again--while striking out five. Sabathia was as good or better, limiting the Phils to three runs on nine hits through eight innings with four strikeouts. Neither pitcher issued a walk.

As on Saturday, the Phils got effective relief work until Lidge came on. Chad Durbin worked a scoreless 7th and Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson got through the 8th to preserve the 3-2 lead. But Lidge surrendered an infield single to Robinson Cano to start the 9th, then saw pinch-runner Ramiro Pena steal second and score on Melky Cabrera's seeing-eye single up the middle. Lidge managed to escape without further damage, however, and Condrey pulled off an even more impressive feat in the 10th. After allowing singles to Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon to start the inning, he induced a 4-6-3 double play from Teixiera and, after an intentional walk to Alex Rodriguez, got Pena to fly out. The Phils then won it in the 11th off Brett Tomko when Chase Utley walked with two outs, stole second, and scored on Ruiz's double.

The Phillies come home to start a three-game set with the Marlins on Monday night, as Jamie Moyer faces his favorite opponent hoping to finally notch career win #250.

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The Phillies come home to start a three-game set with the Marlins on Monday night, as Jamie Moyer faces his favorite opponent hoping to finally notch career win #250.

And then retiring?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on May 24, 2009 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

It doesn’t feel great, but this is kind of what I’m hoping for as well.

Remember they flipped him and Cole so Hamels could pitch today and Moyer could face the Marlins. If he gets absolutely thrashed tomorrow night, after “hiding” him from the tough Yankees lineup, that might move the discussion forward a bit.

by dajafi on May 24, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

But since Happ has replaced Park, what are your options? Do you bring carpenter back up?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on May 24, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Worley, Bastardo, Kendrick or Carrasco all strike me as better, or at least more interesting, alternatives to Carpenter.

by dajafi on May 25, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

“More Interesting” – why do i get the feeling that it’ll just be new guys giving us agita?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on May 25, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

2 walks in 29 innings against a patient Yankees team is especially impressive.

by christonabike on May 24, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions

The rotation pitched lights out. Too bad the guy with the nickname “lights out” pitched horrible. Giving up runs in 8 out his last 11 appearances is not good. Its amazing how we’re still 1.5 games ahead of the mets in first with the worst team ERA in baseball and a closer whos blown 4 saves…..imagine how good we can be if we get Lidge throwing well again and Blanton and Moyer start throwing some quality games. Sky is the limit but I think we need to acquire an all star caliber starting pitcher by the all star break if possible. Roy Oswalt may be available?

by phillayfan on May 24, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

Also, the Brad Lidge hate has got to stop. He’s not pitching significantly worse than last year. Take a look at his numbers. His K, BB, swing percentages, etc. while slightly worse this year, are not 4x the ERA worse. The biggest difference is that this year he has a HR/FB percentage of 19 vs. 4 last year. He’ll have an ERA of 3.50 and a percentage around 11 by the time the year ends.

by christonabike on May 24, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

The two hits today were less than scalded—the first one was sort of hard-hit, but Utley wasn’t in a good position to handle it, and the RBI was a thirty-hopper up the middle. The two outs Madson recorded probably were on better contact.

I think you’re probably right that he’s pitched in some bad luck. A friend of mine who works in sports representation gets home run data from the new Yankee Stadium after every game, and he sent it to me last night—the Rodriguez home run that tied the game went 341 feet, and wouldn’t have been out in their old park.

by dajafi on May 24, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

As always, it feels good to finish up a road trip with a win. The schedule ahead gets very interesting in about a week. After six games at home, the Phillies start off June with a road trip to San Diego (winners of nine straight and two out of three vs. the Phillies in April). After that they play the Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, Toronto (two series), and Tampa Bay, with only one series vs. the Orioles to break up this stretch against the top-level opponents. By June 28th they are scheduled for 22 of 25 games in 28 days against teams that are currently .500 or above, including 16 road games. Then the Phillies face the Braves and Mets to start July. This may be the toughest month-long schedule in baseball – at least for the Phillies it looks certain to be their toughest calendar month – and it should make for some very interesting games.

by phillyinportland on May 24, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Carlos Ruiz

I wonder if Ruiz gets the recognition he deserves. Anybody who can get a hit off the Dodgers Broxton must be doing something right.

by fan since late 40's on May 24, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Ruiz is the man. People bash his hitting cause he doesnt hit above .300, but i feel like he hits in the clutch a lot of the time.

by worldphuckinchamps on May 24, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

WEll there you have it – get a hit of broxton – you’re a wonder

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on May 24, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

noone hated on Lidge. I simply stated a fact that hes given up runs in 8 out of his last 11 appearances. Thats not getting the job done….Im not hating on the guy but he’ll be the first to tell you he’s struggling.

by phillayfan on May 24, 2009 8:41 PM EDT reply actions