Game Recap:
In the wildest game of the season, Eric Bruntlett's unassisted triple play saved the game for the Phillies, who moved to 21 games over .500 with the win.
What went right?
Jayson Werth went 2-5 with a three run home run.
Carlos Ruiz was 1-4 with a three run home run.
Eric Bruntlett went 3-5, scored a run and recorded the second ever unassisted triple play to end a baseball game.
Pedro Martinez pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked one, struck out five and drove in his first run of the season.
Jimmy Rollins was 1-4 with an RBI.
Matt Stairs managed to not record an at-bat, but still walked and scored a run.
What went wrong?
Ryan Howard was 0-5.
Each relief pitcher that came into the game allowed a run to score.
Game Analysis:
In my wildest dreams, I didn't think I could ever see a game like this. It wasn't pretty in the least, but the Phillies managed to pick up the win in the craziest ending to a game I have ever seen. When a team knocks an opposing team's pitcher out after less than an inning, you don't expect it to be a close game, but that's exactly what today turned into. The Phillies drove Oliver Perez into the showers after just two thirds of an inning, but those six runs they scored weren't enough. Fortunately, Eric Bruntlett happened to be in the right place at the right time, with the runners going in the ninth inning, and the Phillies picked up the win.
The nine runs are exactly what I'm used to seeing at least once a week when it comes to the Phillies. The offense can struggle from time to time, but when it comes to an explosion, you know it's going to happen. Today just happened to be that time. Bad Oliver Perez showed up, and the Phillies jumped all over him, making him throw almost 50 pitches in the first inning. Jayson Werth continued his hot streak, and Carlos Ruiz finally got his first hit against the Mets this season. Of course, Pedro Martinez wasn't that great either. He couldn't find his out pitch all day, and the Mets hit him early. Fortunately, he settled down and shut the Mets down in the last three innings that he pitched.
It was a good thing he did, because the bullpen was shaky today. Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge all gave up runs, and before Bruntlett's miracle, I had a feeling the game was going to go the other way. Lidge looked ok, and his pitches were where they needed to be, but bad fielding by Bruntlett and Ryan Howard allowed the Mets to not only stay in the game, but be in a position to win it. At least that didn't happen, because I didn't want to have to post on here if the Phillies had managed to lose this game.
This may have been the ugliest game I have ever seen, but I'll take it. The Phillies are 15.5 games up on the Mets, and 6.5 up on the Braves, with a series against them coming up next week. This is probably the best situation they could find themselves in right now with just a month and a half to go in the regular season. I've seen some odd things, but nothing like what I saw today. Is it a sign? Who the hell knows, but I'm going to enjoy it.
Tomorrow, Cliff Lee (11-9, 2.72 ERA) goes for the Phillies against Bobby Parnell (3-5, 4.74 ERA).
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