Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins homered to lead off the game and that was all the runs the World Champions would need as they defeated the slumping New York Mets,2-0 Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park in Pennsylvania. Veteran starter Joe Blanton pitched four hit ball over 8 innings while the NL starting 2B in the all star game, Chase Utley homered for an important insurance run in the 6th. The win gave the suddenly resurgent Philles(had lost 12 of 15) swept the series and the Mets have dropped 8 of 11 and are now in 3rd place in the NL East, 4 games back.
Blanton(5-4,4.69) did not allow a base runner until the Mets 8th hitter, 2B Luis Castillo, singled by third base. He faced a bit of trouble in the 6th when 1B Daniel Murphy used an outstanding at bat to draw a 11 pitch walk to loaded the bases. He however got 3B David Wright to ground in to a inning ending double play.“That was a big play,” Blanton said. “With the bases loaded, I’m trying to make good pitches and hopefully get him to hit it on the ground for a double play. So I really got the result I wanted. It was a sinker and had pretty good movement and I got lucky.” The Phillies starter went 7 and a third innings, he allowed 4 hits while K-ing 5 and walking 3.
Mets starter Johan Santana(9-7,3.29) pitched great but made two mistakes and the World Champs made him pay. Over 7 innings, the ace lefty allowed only 3 hits and K-ed 3. He walked 2 and did not allow a runner to reach scoring position all day. Unfortunately, Rollins(1st) and Utley(6th) homered to right for the Phillies runs.“I did everything I could, but they were better,” Santana said. “I was trying to give them a chance to win, but in the end it came down to a couple of pitches. They did everything right the whole series.”
Star of the Game: Blanton- The latest mid level starter to make the Mets look like the Bad News Bears
From Bill James: What do Mets Carlos Beltran, Alex Cora, Carlos Delgado, Oliver Perez, J.J. Putz and Jose Reyes have in common? They have all spent time on the disabled list and played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic!!!
Game Notes: The Mets(50) have 19 more homers than Albert Pujols(31) … OF-1b Fernando Tatis pinch hit(for Murphy) and grounded out in the 8th NY is now 39-42… OF Gary Sheffield was given the day off but pinch hit in the 8th in the pitchers slot , striking out swinging… The Mets scored 3 runs in the series
Mets starting line-up:
1- SS Alex Cora
2- 1B Daniel Murphy
3- 3B David Wright
4- RF Ryan Church
5- LF Nick Evans
6- CF Jeremy Reed
7- C Brian Schneider
8- 2B Luis Castillo
9- Pitcher
Johan: The ace looked like his old self after the worst June of his 10 year career(6.19 era). The loss drops the southpaw to 4-1 vs the Phillies in his career. In 16 Santana starts, 5 times the Mets have scored 2 runs or less.
Next Game:
Team is off Monday, Start a two series homestand vs Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday at 7:10 pm at Citi-Field
