Masterpiece Theatre: Phillies 1, Mets 0
by dajafi on Sep 13, 2009 11:15 PM EDT
13 comments
Through his first six starts as a Phillie, all wins for the team, Pedro Martinez clearly showed that he still had something left at age 37. In number seven, he turned back the clock and electrified a packed Citizens Bank Park, working eight superb innings to come out on the long end of a 1-0 victory.
After allowing five baserunners through the first two innings, Martinez mowed the Mets down over the next three innings with a low-90s fastball, evil changeup and rarely used but effective curve. He surrendered a leadoff David Wright double in the sixth--then struck out Carlos Beltran and induced easy fly outs from Daniel Murphy and Jeremy Reed. In the seventh, going over 100 pitches, he worked around a one-out single and a two-out walk to preserve the lead. Incredibly, Charlie Manuel sent Martinez back out for the eighth--and he started the inning by striking out Wright for the third time in the game and getting a Beltran groundout. After a long battle, Murphy doubled to the wall in right-center--but with a 1-1 count on Reed and Martinez at 130 pitches, a breaking pitch bounced a foot away from catcher Carlos Ruiz and Murphy took off for third. Ruiz pounced on the ball and fired to Pedro Feliz, who slapped the tag on Murphy to end the inning.
The excellence of Martinez overshadowed Tim Redding's continued and ever more inexplicable ownership of the Phillies. The first three Phils hitters reached base, Jimmy Rollins coming around to score on a Chase Utley hit to the wall that, because of Rollins' late break, went only for a single. But Redding retired the next three hitters to escape without further damage, stranded Feliz after a leadoff double in the second, and then set down the next 14 Phils hitters. Redding's ERA for the season before tonight's game was 5.78; in three starts against them this year, he's worked to a 2.00 ERA through 18 innings,
Ryan Madson worked the ninth to earn his eighth save, allowing only a one-out single to another Phillie-killer, Brian Schneider. With the doubleheader sweep, the Phillies officially eliminated the Mets from playoff contention; with their 82nd win of the year, the club clinched its sixth seventh straight winning season. They now lead the Marlins, who lost earlier Sunday, by 6.5 games.
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With Pedro looking stronger and stronger each time out while Happ nurses his oblique injury, we move closer and closer to the latter heading to the bullpen while the former rounds out the 4-man rotation come October.
I know Pedro hasn’t pitched against a playoff opponent yet, but he’s pitched damn well nonetheless, and with a couple of righty-heavy lineups to worry about in the NL bracket (L.A. and St. Louis), I think it’s probably the right move.
by PhillyFriar on Sep 13, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We’ll see how he bounces back from those 130 pitches. Utterly thrilling as it was to watch him, I still don’t think that was very wise.
But if that doesn’t prove to be a problem, I’m definitely coming around on the idea of starting him in the playoffs.
by dajafi on Sep 13, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually it’s the 7th straight winning seasons, passing ’62 through ’67 as the second longest streak in franchise history.
by Jeff Hildebrand on Sep 14, 2009 12:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Trailing only the nine straight years from 1975-83.
Sad but true that this is only the third time in team history they’ve had winning seasons six straight years.
by phillyinportland on Sep 14, 2009 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice summary
I might have added that Charlie Manuel added to the drama by coming out after the Murphy double as if to remove Pedro, only to leave him in. It sure looked like Pedro and Charlie were like a couple of ol’ country boys in their celebration together at the end of the game.
by phillyinportland on Sep 14, 2009 12:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Tim Redding
His career ERA is 5.00 with a .806 OPS against. His career ERA against the Phillies is 3.01 with a .578 OPS against. That gives him a tOPS+ of 46 against the Phillies, which is absurd.
by David S. Cohen on Sep 14, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thoiught the announcers of ESPN did a great job the 8th inning. They brought in history, concerns and excitement to make me even feel like I was at the park last night. What a great game pitched by Pedro. And, he looked like he was thrilled.
Hearing the crowd cheer for Pedro last night, reminded me last year being there when Pedro was laying an egg for the Mets. The crowd was shouting ’Pedro, Pedro" and it was driving him crazy!
by DeanH on Sep 14, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be at the park for a game more than I wanted to be there last night. The place was electric with Pedro getting the crowd going and then feeding off of them. That was so awesome.
"It was almost like if Harry didn't call it, it wasn't real." - Jayson Stark
by Chris Haines on Sep 14, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As an out of towner
I get stuck only seeing the national broadcast, during which Joe Morgan inevitably drives me nuts. He’ll follow up an interesting insight like “Madson should throw his cut fastball more as a closer to induce grounders. It should be his out pitch.” Then he’ll follow it up with something inane like (with Rollins at bat the previous inning) “That’s been Rollins’ problem all year. Too many balls going up in the air.”
I know it’s true with most announcers, but Morgan drives me nuttier than most.
by Cormican on Sep 14, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know…the second statement is probably more insightful than the first. Madson’s cutter sucks.
by FuquaManuel on Sep 14, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those were some pretty strange starting pitching performances this weekend.
by taco pal on Sep 14, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ah Philly, how I love thee
Visited Philly for the weekend to take in the Mets series and see some sights.
Visited Harry Kalas’ grave and cried a little. Independence Seaport Museum: the in-building exhibits were kinda meh but the ship tours were worth it. Although if you have claustrophobic tendencies you may want to skip the submarine. :-) Battleship New Jersey: awesome! It requires a lot of climbing up and down narrow staircases but it was very interesting. Jim’s Steaks is a lot better than Tony Luke’s at the park (not enough cheese and too many onions).
Friday’s win was nice, but it was too wet to be a truly enjoyable night at the park. Saturday’s game was great until the last two innings (I literally yelled “Nooooooo!” as Wright’s 9th-inning homer sailed into the stands). The first game on Sunday was nice. Kendrick’s performance was a pleasant surprise.
The best game, though, had to be Sunday night. Pedro was great. The crowd was into it. Everyone was booing the ump and chanting “Let’s go Pedro!” during the eighth inning and we were all excited to see Charlie let him have a chance to get the third out.
Oh yeah, they showed me on the big videoboard during Sunday night’s game. I saw myself (and how fat my face looked…) and immediately hid behind my “Let’s Go Phillies” sign!
That ball hit deep! Way back! You can put it on the boooaaaard...YES!
Long drive into deep right center field! This ball is OUTTA HEEERRRREE!
R.I.P. Harry Kalas 4-13-09
by HappyHuman on Sep 14, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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