Big Pelf takes a header
Mike Pelfrey (4-1) remembered who he was, as did Roy Halladay (5-1), and this afternoon the Philadelphia Phillies took game 2 of the 3 game series with the New York Mets 10-0. Despite the huge lead Halladay threw 118 pitches in a complete game shutout. Given that he signed with Philadelphia specifically to finally pitch in a post season after 13 seasons of never reaching one, perhaps he should’ve bowed out of this one a little early to save some stamina for the long season and that potential post season. Time will tell.
Jayson Werth
For the first 3 innings, the pitchers duel suggested by the starters’ records coming in played out. That ended in the 4th. Chase Utley led off and blooped a ball behind shortstop that fell into then out of the glove of Jose Reyes for a single. Ryan Howard then lined a sharp single to right. Jayson Werth followed with a pop up behind 2nd base. Mets back up 2nd baseman Alex Cora, giving Luis Castillo a day off, ranged back on the pop. In a move that will be heralded as stupidity that happened to work out or brilliance depending on where you live Utley took off from 2nd base and didn’t look back. Luckily for him Cora couldn’t handle the pop and it fell for an RBI single. After Raul Ibanez struck out, Juan Castro drove a 2-run double to left plating Howard and Werth. Carlos Ruiz and then Halladay both singled, after which Shane Victorino homered to right center making it 6-0 Phillies. That would prove more than enough runs for Halladay, but that wouldn’t stop them from adding on.
Bend it like Bender?
Raul Valdes relieved Pelfrey to start the 5th. He immediately surrendered a double to Utley. 1 out later he walked Werth. Ibanez then tripled to right driving in Utley and Werth to give the Phils an 8-0 lead. In the 7th Utley again led off and again doubled. 1 out later Werth singled to drive home Utley. After a throwing error by Met 1st baseman Ike Davis allowed Ibanez to reach, Castro popped out. Ruiz singled to drive home Werth making it 10-0, which would prove to be the final score.
Oh yeah, bend it like this guy
No Met performed particularly well in this one. David Wright and Henry Blanco each managed a double, but the team only had 3 hits in total off of Halladay. Valdes struck out 6 in his 3 innings of relief, but that was tempered by the 5 hits, 1 walk and 4 runs (3 earned) that he allowed. Manny Acosta pitched a scoreless 8th if you’re desperate for a silver lining.
20 comments
dirtysanchez
5/1/2010-6:04pm at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)
It took the best to beat the Mets, gotta try to win the series tomorrow. Today was going to be the day we probably were not going to win anyway.
stickguy
5/1/2010-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
ugly game, but I guess they were due.
and I know dirty doesn’t agree, but both pop ups should have been caught, and cora’s was absolutely an error.
But, it is only 1 lose, and they weren’t hitting halladay anyway today, so might as well purge all the toxins in one game.
so I hope for 2 things: 1) Santana has his good stuff tomorrow, and an attitude, and shuts the phils down, and 2) Pelf rebounds from this and doesn’t slide back into his malaise from last year.
stickguy
5/1/2010-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
For some reason, I have on the derby prerace show (even though I hate horse racing). Just showed some short guy with a walmart quality toupee betting 100K on 1 horse to win. Had a big briefcase full of cash. Must be nice.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-7:02pm at 7:02 pm (UTC -4)
That was a contest that guy won. He was given 100 thousand dollars to bet on any of the 20 entries. And don’t ya know – he bet the winner? That gentleman is a little over $9,000 dollars richer this evening, given the 7-1 odds.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-7:25pm at 7:25 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry, obviously that should have read $900,000 richer…
stickguy
5/1/2010-7:26pm at 7:26 pm (UTC -4)
OK. I missed that part. I just tuned in as he was betting. Who gets the winnings, him? That is a lot of money.
gategem
5/1/2010-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
The IRS.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-8:44pm at 8:44 pm (UTC -4)
LOL – yes, I’m sure the IRS knows his name now.
As far as I knew, this lucky guy gets it all….
stickguy
5/1/2010-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
oh yeah, still in 1st place baby!
stickguy
5/1/2010-6:12pm at 6:12 pm (UTC -4)
although if nats win, they will be tied.
at least the Yanks lost. Vazquez with a snappy 9.78 ERA. bet he got booed today.
stickguy
5/1/2010-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
how did you guys miss a post on this earth shattering move by the Mets? Get on the ball here:
The Mets’ Triple-A affiliate cut lefty Travis Blackley loose, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The move will make room for the returning Elmer Dessens.
And, MLBTR (where that came from) also has this nugget: Are mets looking to move Murphy?
The Mets want Daniel Murphy to learn to play multiple positions in part because it would increase his trade value, writes Brian Costa of the Star-Ledger. A person familiar with the team’s thinking told Costa that they will send the first baseman to Triple-A when he returns from a right knee sprain. The demotion will give him an opportunity to learn other positions and take more at-bats than he would in the majors.
The 24-year-old Murphy has been unseated at first base by 23-year-old Ike Davis. If Murphy can acclimate himself to left field and second base, he would become a more valuable asset whether he stays or goes elsewhere.
In his 204 games on the varsity squad, Murphy has hit .275/.331/.437. His career UZR/150 at his preferred position is 8.6, while he posted a -9.0 in left field. However, sample size should be taken into account as he played just 59 total games in left.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
For those of us who saw the game today, I’d have to say Ike could use some more experience with his defensive skills yet…
stickguy
5/1/2010-7:28pm at 7:28 pm (UTC -4)
looks good to me. Just a triffle wide on that one throw, and I still think reyes botched his foot work and should have handled hit.
did he do anything else notable?
But considering the alternative of tatis, he can stand there with his eyes closed and I will be happy with him.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-8:47pm at 8:47 pm (UTC -4)
No, just those couple, as far as I remember.
Not quite sure on that Reyes bobble what the correct play was – go to first or second, but looked like he had plenty of time to get the runner at second so can’t fault him there.
I think he’s made a couple of errors before today. I’m not saying his defense is bad ’cause he looks like a natural to me. Just saying looks like he needs a little polish.
metsfan4decades
5/1/2010-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
Well, that was just ugly. It was gonna be tough to win this one anyway, but I would have preferred they lost with a little more dignity then they managed…
Here’s hoping Pelfrey puts this one behind him and believes in the pitcher he’s showed he can be.
And my opinion on the defense? I think Reye’s non catch was not an error. He was playing more behind the bag than in the SS hole so he wasn’t exactly positioned great to get that one. But Cora? He had that in his glove and had both hands there – even though it was over the shoulder. I thought that one was an error..
Even so, what happened behind those two plays was all on Pelf. Your defense makes an error, you still have to get the next guy. The turning point of this game? When Halladay got that base hit.
Hopefully since the pitching, defense, offense didn’t show up today, they all got it out of their system and come out strong tomorrow night behind Johan.
stickguy
5/1/2010-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
ugly yes, but no uglier than the Phils played on Friday.
so, 2 games in, and one ace down. 11-9 run advantage to Philly, and 1-1 in games. So pretty much a push.
Mets have to have the edge tomorrow you would figure. So overall, not in a bad position.
Pelf shaking it off is the only thing that worries me.
I also agree that Reyes you can give a pass on his drop, but 100% cora was an error. he had it all the way, right in the glove, but you could see him take his eye off the ball before the catch was made. E4.
Hazmet
5/1/2010-8:05pm at 8:05 pm (UTC -4)
Agree 100% on the turning point. Pelf has to get Halladay there with 2 outs to keep it 3-0. May not have made a difference but it would have kept it close. Also, seems like all year long David’s been guarding the line except for on the double down the line to plate runs 2 & 3. Not being picky here, just looking at today as one of those games where the plays didn’t line up and things snowballed. We’ve got our stud going tomorrow, it will be interesting to see how this series wraps up.
Hazmet
5/1/2010-8:09pm at 8:09 pm (UTC -4)
Play I wish I saw today before the game got away: Suicide squeeze with Hank on 3rd and Pagan at the plate.
gategem
5/1/2010-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
The Mets lost to the best pitcher in baseball. No shame in that.
Pelfrey had a flashback game where he faced adversity and lost. Some regression has to be expected as Pelfrey matures as a pitcher and a man.
I’ve seen teams go on a lengthy winning streak only to follow it with an equally long losing streak. So tomorrow night’s game is important.
stickguy
5/1/2010-9:32pm at 9:32 pm (UTC -4)
well, at least the nats are losing big, so the Mets should be all alone in 1st place for another day!
What, too early to scoreboard watch the Nats games?