NEW YORK -- So, roughly six hours before last night's game started, I ate lunch at Mama's, a deli near Shea Stadium. As the friendly owners -- dressed in Mets jerseys, by the way -- made my delicious "Super Italian" sub, they told me that they do the catering for the clubhouses at Shea. After rallying in the ninth inning Tuesday night, the Phillies placed the same order for last night's game, and in the interest of improving their favorite team's luck, the fine folks at Mama's decided to make the same sandwiches for the Mets' clubhouse. Lo and behold, Jose Reyes hit a decisive three-run homer off Ryan Madson and the Mets won 6-3, tying the Phillies for the NL East lead and squaring the three-game series with the rubber match set for today.It must've been the sandwiches.
Or, perhaps, it was Brett Myers.
Fresh from his three-week mission to the minors and making his first big-league start since June 27, Myers issued four consecutive walks and allowed two runs in the first inning, sapping any residual momentum the Phillies may have gleaned from Tuesday night's comeback. He threw 95 pitches, only 49 strikes, and lasted just five innings before turning things over to Madson, who had allowed three runs since May 25 prior to Reyes' three-run shot.
Myers, Charlie Manuel and catcher Carlos Ruiz put their best positive spin on it, but I thought it was more of the same for Myers, whose disappointing season continues. And Martin Frank wonders, quite reasonably, how much longer the Phillies can afford to keep Myers in the rotation before turning to J.A. Happ or Carlos Carrasco or pulling the trigger on a deal for another starter.
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Within the notebook, Joe Blanton talks about his pedestrian Phillies debut. Also, seldom-used So Taguchi admits that he has spoken to Manuel about his playing time. Taguchi, it should be noted, posted his second straight pinch-hit last night. He's 2-for-18 in that situation this season.
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Quick turnaround today, so we'll be back in a bit with lineups. For now, here are a few stats to chew on with your breakfast: Jamie Moyer has a 2.63 ERA in nine career starts at Shea, while Oliver Perez has held the Phillies scoreless in 18-1/3 innings this season.
Winner takes first place. Who do you like in this one?
2 comments:
We have a chance today, so long as Jamie Moyer doesn't even try to pitch to Delgado. Delgado just keep hitting HR after HR against Moyer. I say intentionally walk to guy, or stick one in his ear for Reyes' showboating last night.
Gillick is still eyeballing AJ Burnett ... any chance of Myers to Toronoto and AJ BUrnett to the Phils?
"or stick one in his ear for Reyes' showboating last night. "
that's it, yeah, you dont like what someone does lets just go ahead and bean him in the head.........makes perfect sense.
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