Before each of the first two games of the Phillies-Mets series, I greedily devoured the statistical goodness offered up by MLB.com's Press Pass. As is my way. Seeing the Mets' gaudy offensive statistics against Phillies starters Adam Eaton and Jamie Moyer was a bit disturbing. Considering that some of those .500+ batting averages had some serious sample size issues, I was able to assuage my own fears a bit. At least until the reality of the 5.00+ ERAs the two veteran starters have compiled over the entire season brought the fears back. I was concerned that a couple of poor starts, combined with the bullpen implosions which seem to, invariably, follow those poor starts would drop Philadelphia further behind New York in the divisional race. Blowout losses against the likes of the Dodgers and the Padres are bad, but getting blown out by the Mets is just infuriating. Because I just really, really hate those goddamn Mets. I may have mentioned that before.Turns out there was abso-frigging-lutely nothing to worry about. What a great couple of victories these two games were. In Tuesday night's game, Eaton allowed only two runs over 5.2 innings. The Phillies trailed, 2-0, going into the bottom of the eighth, but a Jimmy Rollins homer, and a fifty foot RBI single by Aaron Rowand, tied the game. Rowand's roller barely stayed fair- I suspect Whitey and Vuke were watching, somewhere far beyond, and conspired to keep the dribbler in fair territory. The looks of exasperation on the Mets' faces were priceless. Closer Brett Myers, who has struggled in non-save situations, pitched two scoreless innings. Ryan Howard finished things off with an incredible walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th. An amazing victory, one of the Phillies' best this season. The Rowand dribbler and the Howard walkoff seems like sure bets to be featured in the Phillies' 2007 World Series DVD.
The Wednesday night win may have been just as exciting. Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell homered, backing a strong start by Jamie Moyer (6 IP, 2 ER). The Phillies' defense rose to the occasion, turning three double plays, and picking speedster Jose Reyes off first base twice. Even Abraham O. Nunez contributed with some fine defensive plays. (Still batting .242, but those plays at third were nice.) The Phillies took a 3-2 lead into the top of the 9th, and brought on Brett Myers for the save. Myers had pitched two innings the previous night, and didn't seem to be on top of his game. With one out, and runners on 1st and 3rd, Shawn Green hit a slow runner to SS Jimmy Rollins. He was able to get the force at second, but it was hit too slowly to turn a game-ending double play.
Except that the most miraculous play, in a season that has seen many miraculous plays, happened. Mets baserunner Marlon Anderson plowed over Phillies 2B Tadahito Iguchi, second-base umpire C. B. Bucknor ruled interference, and the game was over. JUST. INCREDIBLE. I've watched the Phillies' play-by-play clip about thirty times, and it still gives me chills every time. Harry Kalas seems resigned to a tie game, as he calls the slow roller. Chris Wheeler starts yelling "Interference!" Sarge is yelling, "Yes! Yes! C.B!" The Mets are going BALLISTIC, Marlon Anderson is LEAPING in the air in frustration, the Phillies are celebrating the win in the middle of field, as they filter through the the pile of INFURIATED Mets. HOLY. FUCK. What a way to win! Even better, what a way to win a game AGAINST THE METS! WITH DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS! (Amazing clip available here!)
I guess I'm kind of still a little bit jacked up about Wednesday night's win. Kyle Lohse goes for the sweep this afternoon, with the Phils trailing the Mets by a mere THREE games! THREE! (It was seven games not too long ago!) What's next?!
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