Game Recap:
The Phillies hit four home runs off of Johan Santana, but it wasn't enough, as the Mets were able to score against the bullpen and work a 6-5 win.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins went 3-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.
Ryan Howard was 1-4 with a home run.
Raul Ibanez went 1-4 with his 20th homer of the season.
Chase Utley was 1-4 with a home run...I'm sensing a theme here.
What went wrong?
The usually reliable bullpen fell flat tonight, allowing two runs in a combined 2 and 2/3rds innings, including giving up the game winning home run to Ryan Church.
Carlos Ruiz was 0-3.
Charlie Manuel's two pinch hitters in the ninth inning, Matt Stairs and Greg Dobbs, managed to make contact with all of one pitch, and if it wasn't for Jimmy Rollins, it would have been a game ending double play.
Game Analysis:
It sucks to lose an entertaining game like this, but the Phillies can take some positives out of it. For one thing, they were able to jack four homers off of Johan Santana, who is usually untouchable when it comes to things like that. Before tonight, Santana had allowed only six home runs on the season, so the Phils had his number tonight. Even though Santana ended up with the win, he only struck out two in seven innings, and the Phillies looked like they had him rattled several times.
J.A. Happ got into trouble a few times in the early innings, which is why he only managed to pitch into the sixth inning. However, he got out of the situations without giving up many runs, and for a guy that had struggled against the Mets before this start, that was important. He struck out four and walked four, but he only allowed four runs, and was able to get out of some sticky situations without allowing a ton of runs, so the kid looked decent tonight.
The main problem was with the bullpen. Both Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin were unable to hold the Mets down, and it became a problem later on as the Phillies were able to climb back within one run. All it would have taken was a Condrey pitch not right down the middle to Santana that turned into an RBI double for the pitcher, or a Durbin pitch to Ryan Church that didn't result in a freaking apple bashing homer that would keep the Mets on top for good. It just sucks when the Phils can come back and get the lead in the sixth inning, only for the bullpen to blow it. I know Brad Lidge wasn't 100%, but Durbin and Condrey need to be able to lock down opposing batters when they come into the game. It's what they get paid for. Tonight, they didn't do it, and the Phillies lost because of it. When you hit four homers and lose, something happened with your pitching, and that was the case tonight.
Tomorrow, the Phillies look to get back on the winning track, as Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.40 ERA) goes against Mike Pelfrey (4-2, 4.85 ERA). Go Phillies!
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