Tys of Summer - Phillies 8, Mets 4

On the first official day of summer, the beginning of Hitting Season, Ty Wigginton reached base five times driving home six runs as the Phillies took the first game of a three-game series against the Mets in New York, in a game where True Number One Ace Coal Hammels pitched like Jack Morris.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Grill some hot dogs, pound some Budweiser and thank a veteran.

Wigginton got started in the third, doubling home Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, then, the Mets assembled a brief rally. With Rob Johnson on second, Justin Turner lined a single to right. Johnson held at third, but Turner attempted to take second on the throw. Brian Schneider's throw to first nearly went wild, but Freddy Galvis came up with it in a fantastic sliding grab; before firing a strike to Jimmy Rollins at second while lying on his back! Rollins then tagged out Turner, who proceeded to injure himself on the play.

With Turner out at SS, the Mets called upon David Wright to fill in at the 6-hole, which certainly had the possibility for some LOLMets action; but Wright carried himself handily.

In the bottom of the fifth, Vinny Rottino, just back from disposing of Turner's body in the East River, took Hamels deep to left. The shot, which wouldn't have gone out of the old Citi Field (Mr. Alderson, Tear Down That Wall!), tied the game at 2-2.

Back to work in the top of the sixth, Wigginton led off with his second walk of the game, setting the table for John Mayberry, who absolutely blasted a two-run shot to left. That was the end of the road for Jonathan Niese, who somehow limited the Phillies to four runs, despite allowing five walks in five innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, the Mets struck again, as cleanup hitter Scott Hairston hit a two-run shot to tie the game again.

In the top of the seventh, Wigginton came through again, lining a single to score Rollins, giving the Phils a 5-4 lead. Moving to the ninth, with the score still at 5-4, the Mets turned to Manny Acosta, presumably intending to keep the score close. A word about Manny Acosta here: He came in with a 10.64 ERA, having allowed 26 runs in 21 innings. He has allowed more homeruns this year than any relief pitcher not named Chad Qualls. Exactly the sort of player you turn to in a still salvageable game, right? Acosta allowed singles to Placido Polanco and Pence, before Wigginton came to the plate again, and bombed a three-run shot to left for his sixth RBI of the night. I mean, this was almost expected against Acosta.

Jonathan Papelbon, who had already begun warming up, came in to pitch the non-save situation, and worked a one-two-three inning, capped by a strikeout of Rottino. Papelbon should probably hire a bodyguard; and maybe put bars on his windows.

First Earl of Fangraph, Ty the Lord Wigginton:

Source: FanGraphs

With the win (and the Barves' loss to St. Louis), the Phillies are now tied for fourth in the division with Atlanta, with a 26-24 record; four games out of first. Additionally, the Phils' road record of 15-11 is the best in the National League. Make of that what you will.

No further news was heard today on the state of Roy Halladay, except for some evil fake Twitter accounts. He is expected to see a doctor tomorrow, probably in Philadelphia; and will potentially miss his next start.

Around the League

Lehigh Valley, Gwinnett (7:05PM, Bush vs. Teheran)

Reading, Harrisburg (6:00PM, Buchanan vs. Rosenbaum)

Lakewood, West Virginia (1:00PM. Giles vs. Dodson)

St. Louis 8, Atlanta 2 LOLBarves lose 8 in a row

Miami 5, Washington 3