The Fightins » July 24 Game Recap: Cardinals 8, Phillies 1

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Jul

2009

July 24 Game Recap: Cardinals 8, Phillies 1

Posted by Dash Treyhorn at 11:33 pm ET 40 Comments

What happened?

J.A. Happ lost his first game as the season as the Phillies dropped the first game of the series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Who did what?

J.A. Happ (L, 7-1) gave up five runs on 10 hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked zero.

Shane Victorino went 2 for 5 with a double (26).

Ryan Howard went 2 for 4 with a double (21).

Jayson Werth went 1 for 3 with a run.

Joel Pineiro (W, 9-9) pitched six shutout innings to earn the win. He allowed four hits and one walk while striking out three.

Julio Lugo went 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Mark DeRosa went 1 for 4 with an RBI.

Matt Holliday went 4 for 5 with a double (1) and an RBI.

Ryan Ludwick went 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Rick Ankiel went 3 for 4 with a dounle (17) and three RBIs.

What does this mean?

Well, it finally happened. J.A. Happ lost a game in 2009.

After being the most consistent starter for the Phillies over the last month, Happ fell victim to the St. Louis Cardinals, who used a series of bloop hits and bleeders to score five runs in six innings off of the young lefty.

It was a frustrating game for the Phillies, who seemed to be the victims of bad luck over anything else. Pitchers over the middle were harmlessly hit to the infield. Would-be homers were knocked down by the wind and turned into doubles. The Cardinals seemed to find holes in the infield, with their four-run fifth coming on little less than chance.

Of course, perhaps the worst part of this game was that it very well may have been J.A. Happ’s final start in a Phillies’ uniform. With rumors circulating that the Blue Jays are going to want him in a package for Roy Halladay, it is a very real possibility that he will no longer be in red pinstripes come August 1.

Whatever happens, Happ has given this team more than anyone could have possibly imagined. He added some much needed grit to the rotation, and his recent run of success has vaulted him into the discussion for the N.L. Rookie of the Year.

What’s next for our heroes?

In game two of the series, Rodrigo Lopez (2-0, 2.60) takes on Kyle Lohse (4-6, 4.21).

40 Comments on “July 24 Game Recap: Cardinals 8, Phillies 1”

4daysrest.com Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 12:44 am
We sat in Section 111 tonight. There was a little boy in the 3rd row sporting a “Pujols for President” sign on a pizza box. Even Stevens, sitting next to me, WTT, threw a Dasani water bottle at the kid. The entire section, except for these two fat pigs, cheered. The two fat pigs were all like, how dare you throw stuff at a little boy. This guy who was easily in his 60’s gave us a thumbs up. We were on our way to getting kicked out, but we passed the usher before being escorted out. Awesome.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Happ is now 1-1 against teams with a winning record. I know those bloops were strange, but he still couldn’t get out of it. Maybe it’s because he’s young, and it’ll be interesting to see how he bounces back, but I’m not totally surprised here. Trade the guy before he becomes Kyle Kendrick.
scrapple joe Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Keep drabek, trade everyone else.
Carl Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 9:13 am
@4DaysRest.com Way to perpetuate the stereotype that Philly fans are crass, uncivilized monsters who throw stuff at children.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 9:17 am
@ 4DaysRest.com
“From the stands of the Empire Stadium
Come the heralds of the New Dark Age
With the simplicities of bigotry
And to whom all the world’s a stage
These little John Bullshits know that the press
Will glorify their feats
So that the general public fear them
And the authorities say give ‘em all seats
And the wasted seed of the bulldog breed
Is shouting here we go”

Way to go. Beating on kids. That’s awesome. Glad you ran before they threw you out. That shit belongs at an Eagles game. Go spend half a pay check on a ticket and get so drunk you don’t even remember if you had fun or not.
SJ Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Throwing shit at defenseless kids is awesome? Why not sucker punch a woman and kick an 80 year old man in the balls on your way out. Classless.
Tug Haines Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Happ should be 2-1 against decent teams, though, remember his brilliant performance against the Yankees that Lidge pissed away?
jdashdog Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Bye bye Happ. Thanks for the memories, but I’ll take Doc anyday. He was pretty stellar for a while but he throws high in the zone and it’s only a matter of time before he comes back to earth.
Mike P Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:08 am
@Tug Do you mean 1-2? He lost to STL and Boston, and he should have won against the Yanks. Or are you counting Toronto or the Braves as decent?
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:12 am
But remember his shitty performance against the Red Sox? Evens out.
Tug Haines Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:12 am
hmmm. I stand corrected. but I was simply adding to Watrick’s point that he was 1-1 against teams with a winning record.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:12 am
He won the game against the Red Sox, but that’s only because the bats saved him against Beckett, of all people.
Tug Haines Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:13 am
owe me a Coke, Watrick.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:19 am
How much you want, an ounce, or a pound?
Mike P Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Ohhhh that’s right, nevermind. Sorry about the confusion!
bigmyc Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Scrapple Joe, Uhhh…there is a guy by the name of, Mike Taylor that you may wanna keep around too..
bigmyc Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Watrick, KK was never 7-0 with a sub three ERA at any time in a Phillies uniform.
bigmyc Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Jdash, Happ throws high in the zone to strike batters out or just to get ‘em to chase.. he wasn’t hit hard by any stretch last night. He’s smart enough to put the ball down if he needs to. Remember, we are not talking a straight up trade here. Of course, you’d take Halladay…but not if it means sending Happ along with Michael Taylor, Drabek, possibly Marson or a combo of all.. You’d have to be crazy.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Marson hasn’t been ear marked according to all the reports swirling around. And yes, KK may never have been 7-0, but he was also pitching against winning teams. Happ has been knocked around by winning teams. Even if it wasn’t hit hard for all the hits last night, there were a few. The double down the line that Raul slide after, or that ball by Ankiel-they were hit hard within a series of bloops. He doesn’t walk people, and that’s what helps him, but he still is only .500 this year against teams with a winning record. Also, Taylor isn’t mentioned as the asking price either. I’d see if we could unload Carasco, who’s shown he’s probably not going to work out here (and remember how he’s been “untouchable” in the past?)
Lynniemac Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Trash talking out of town fans is one thing, but throwing something at them? Especially a little kid whom I’m guessing didn’t do much more than hold up a sign? Behavior like that doesn’t belong anywhere, ever. Classless and cowardly aren’t strong enough words.
lebowski Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I was at the “Welcome Back Scott Rolen” game on August 16, 2002. I saw a handful of Cards fans get the shit kicked out of them for being Rolen sympathizers. Didn’t see too many Phillies fans get escorted out. Ahhh, gotta love the days of The Vet.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I was at that game, too, and had stuff thrown at me for having a sign that read “No Schilling, No Drew, No Rolen, No Phans.” Basically, I was pissed at how the organization was being run at the time. The only big names we had were the ones that left. Of course, they changed it with the signing of Thome, but at that point, I was a little pissed. I’m still a Rolen fan, and over the years, I seem to become for a fan of him, and less of the people that complained about him. Having things thrown at me for having a sign with Rolen’s name, even though those idiots behind me probably didn’t even read it, was the start of me realizing how stupid Philadelphia fans can be.
theoldsport Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Jays formally proposed Happ, Dtabek and Brown for Halladay. Phils said no.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090725&content_id=6050270&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
theoldsport Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Drabek*
Tug Haines Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Oh, and for the record, Pujols should be president.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Sarge just said, “Nice game for a ball game” while discussing the weather for today’s game.
theoldsport Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@ Watrick,

Maybe T-Mac slipped him some pineapple before the game…
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
T-Mac isn’t doing the game today. It’s the Flyers guy and Sarge on the radio, and then Tool and Tooler on Fox.
Lynniemac Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Who the hell is Rowl Ibanez?
Gonzo Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I see the “Jimmy & Chase &…” T shirt. Got a glimpse after Feliz the double in the first.
Tug Haines Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I hate it when JJ calls the game.
Gonzo Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Jimmy Jackson is a terrific announcer.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The Flyers guy is vanilla to me. Don’t mind it, can’t say I love it, but he’s not bad and knows what he’s doing. Serves his purpose well.
Tug Haines Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
He’s a good announcer, yeah, but when he calls the game, it’s on the radio, I can’t see how hard something’s been hit, and he’s so excitable it’s stressful to me. Makes me crazy.
Watrick Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Yeah, well, T-Mac does that, on any ball hit by the other team that becomes an out, I feel. But yeah, Flyers guy does that too. It’s kind of like a somewhat knowledgable, yet somewhat new fan of the sport telling someone what’s happening in the game.
Lynniemac Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
T-Mac has no depth perception. He’s surprised when balls that land in the 20th row are home runs, and calls balls that don’t even get as far as the warning track like they’re going to hit Ashburn Alley.
Gonzo Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Just listened to JJ for the past couple innings. I agree with Tug, not a fan. Oh and Sarge still hasnt said a coherent sentence.
Lynniemac Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Fuck Rick Ankiel.
Gonzo Says:
July 25th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Some Philly fan being an asshole shining a green laser into Lugo’s eye.
harry Says:
July 26th, 2009 at 10:29 am
@Watrick – you’re an idiot