"The Phillies bullpen has struggled against every team. Except the Mets." The Mets announcers must have made a variation of that complaint during just about every inning of the Phillies' three game sweep in New York. (THREE! GAME! SWEEP!) I loved hearing it every time. There's no team that I'd prefer to be dominated by the Phillies more than the Mets. Well, eight straight wins against the Mets is fairly dominating. Every time the Phillies seem to be falling out of the divisional race, they seem to find a way to get back in it. Hopefully, the Phillies will gains some momentum from the weekend, and the Mets' downward spiral will continue.The Phillies are definitely in the Mets' heads after the latest sweep. Friday night, the Mets and 303-game winner Tom Glavine had a 2-0 lead after five innings. No problem. MVP candidate Chase Utley hit a 2-run homer in the sixth to tie the game. Starter Jamie Moyer permitted only two runs in his seven innings, and J. C. Romero, Tom Gordon (3rd win), and Brett Myers (16th save) kept New York scoreless the rest of the way. A pinch-hit sacrifice fly by Greg Dobbs in the 10th inning was the difference.
On Saturday afternoon, the pitching matchup of the Phillies' Kyle Lohse (4.49 ERA) against Mets ace Pedro Martinez (1.69 ERA, 208-92 career record) seemed to favor the Mets. Martinez allowed only one run in his six innings, but was removed after throwing 98 pitches. Kyle Lohse allowed three runs in the five inning he survived, and the Phillies trailed 3-1, after six innings. The Phils scored once in the seventh, and then put up a three -spot in the eighth. A solo HR by Aaron Rowand (24) and a two-run triple by Jimmy Rollins were the big blows. The Phillies' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings, allowing only one measly single, and the Phils had another come-from behind win.
Adam Eaton (6.36 ERA) got the Sunday start, but not even his mediocrity could halt the Phillies' streak. Eaton allowed five runs (four earned) in his 4.2 innings, blowing a 5-2 Phillies lead in the process. The Phillies' bullpen was strong again, surrendering only a single run in 4.1 innings. Greg Dobbs hit a pinch-hit grand slam, and Mets imploded, making six (SIX!) errors. The final score was 10-6 Phils, and the Mets looked horrendous in going down to defeat. Just the way we like them to look. I can't wait to watch these games again with the rest of the 2007 World Series Champion Phillies DVD set. No lead is safe against the Fightin' Phils.
The Phillies travel to St. Louis to meet the struggling Cardinals, losers of approximately 51 of their last 59 games. Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels start the first two games, so the Phillies are well-positioned to continue their run to the playoffs. A playoff run that has been marked by a total domination of the Mets. I almost look forward to the Phillies meeting the Mets again in the playoffs. If they make it that far. The Mets, that is.
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