Phils Hold On Against Cards, 2.5 Behind Mets

(originally posted 9/18/07)

THAT'S how we do it, Phillies style! Take an 11-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth on the road, with our second best starter on the mound. Hold on for dear life, as a procession of AA-quality relievers enters the game, and the lead dissipates. Watch as the seventh Phillie pitcher of the game picks up his first career save, and reduces his season ERA to 5.47. A fairly simple formula, and one that takes .04 years/per game off of every Phillies fan's life. But those painful wins are better than the painless losses of yesteryear. And a World Series Championship would probably be worth knocking a year or so off the end of a Phan's lifetime.

It's not too often that a team scores thirteen runs, and squeaks by with a 13-11 victory. But, considering that the Phillies had brutalized the arms of their three MLB-quality relievers (Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, J. C. Romero) in the sweep of the Mets (SWEEP! OF! THE! METS!), I guess it shouldn't have been too surprising. All six relievers used had ERA's over 5.10. Luckily, the Cardinals pitching was also horrible, and Philly capitalized with eleven hits, seven walks and five homers. Phillies SP Kyle Kendrick pitched five scoreless innings, but tired in the sixth. He allowed three runs in his six innings, raising his record to 9-4 (4.05 ERA).

The game got really ugly in the seventh, when Clay Condrey (5.48 ERA) and Jose Mesa (7.66) combined to allow six St. Louis runs. (Jose Mesa's ERA would be worse, but three of the runners he allowed to score were put on base by Condrey. Mesa is quite adept at allowing inherited runners to score.) The game ended with Francisco Rosario on the mound, and J.D. Durbin and Martin Biron as the only remaining bullpen options. (Considering Durbin's recent struggles, I would have called the French-Canadian hockey goalie into the game before "The Real Deal.")

Ace Cole Hamels (2008-2014, 2016-2021 Cy Young Award winner) will make his glorious return in tonight's win over the St.Louis Cardinals. Hamels' time away from the club will prove to be a blessing in disguise, as the rest will enable him to pitch in a two-man rotation (with Kendrick) for the remainder of the season. Myers, Gordon, and Romero should also be available tonight, in the unlikely event that any of them are needed. Hamels will be held to a pitch count of 70, which should be more than sufficient for a complete game victory. With a little help from the Nationals and Pirates, tonight's win will enable the Phillies to move even closer to clinching a spot in the postseason. At which point Hamels and Kendrick will be shut down until the playoffs, with Eaton, Moyer, Lohse, Ennis, and Castro getting the rest of the regular season starts. (I've got it all worked out, just have to convince Charles Fuqua Manuel that this is the way to go...)