The Fightins » July 5 Game Recap: Phillies 2, Mets 0

HOME	R.I.P. Harry Kalas

Jul

2009

July 5 Game Recap: Phillies 2, Mets 0

Posted by Dash Treyhorn at 4:39 pm ET 17 Comments

What happened?

Joe Blanton out-pitched Johan Santana to lead the Phillies to the sweep over the Mets to go to 42-37.

Who did what?

Joe Blanton (5-4) pitched 7.1 shutout innings for the win. He gave up four hits, three walks and struck out five.

Jimmy Rollins went 2 for 3 with a homer (7) and an RBI.

Chase Utley went 1 for 2 with a homer (18) and an RBI.

Brad Lidge struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 16th save of the season.

Johan Santana (9-7) took the loss, giving up two runs over seven innings. He allowed three hits, two walks and struck out three.

What does this mean?

Joe Blanton kept the Mets off the bases, Jimmy Rollins provided the only offense the team would need, and Brad Lidge was lights-out to complete the sweep against the Mets to start off this homestand.

After drudging through the last month of uninspired baseball, the Phils came out this weekend and sent a message to the Mets and the rest of the National League: We are still the World Champions.

They jumped all over the opposing pitching, their starters were fantastic, and the bullpen didn’t allow a single run. In other words, it looked like 2008.

Joe Blanton rose to the challenge of dueling against one of the NL’s best pitchers, with his biggest moment coming in the top of the sixth, when he induced a bases loaded, inning ending double play against David Wright. He was more than solid over seven plus, and it marks the seventh start out of his last eight in which the right-hander has allowed three or less runs.

Jimmy Rollins was once again in the mix of things, with his leadoff homer being all the offense that the Phills would need. He went 5 for 11 in the series, with five RBIs, two runs, three doubles and a homer.

The bullpen was great in the series as well, with the punctuation marks coming in the ninth inning of the last two games, as Brad Lidge came on both times to record six outs with all six batters faced. He struck out five in this series, including striking out the side today to close out the sweep. There is no question that he is a different pitcher than he was just a month ago. His fastball had good location and velocity, and his slider was filthy.

With just over a week to go before the All Star break, and the smallest of leads in front of the Florida Marlins, this winning streak could not have come at a better time.

What’s next for our heroes?

The Cincinnati Reds come to town for a three game series, and Cole Hamels (4-5, 4.98) opposes Johnny Cueto (8-4, 2.69).

Bonus baseball!

The All Star balloting results were released prior to today’s game, and three Phillies received the nod to head to St. Louis to represent the National League.

Chase Utley led the majors in votes among second baseman to earn his fourth consecutive All Star berth, while Raul Ibanez was selected to his first career Midsummer Classic.

Also along for the ride is first baseman Ryan Howard, who was selected by Charlie Manuel. This is an especially proud moment for The Big Man, who gets to represent the Phillies in front of his hometown of St. Louis.

While none of those selections are particularly surprising, one other Phillie has a chance to be selected to the final roster spot by way of fan vote.

Shane Victorino is among five National League players who will be voted on between now and July 9th to fill out the final roster spot for the National League.

Shane is up against Christian Guzman, Matt Kemp, Mark Reynolds and Pablo Sandoval. While they are fine players, none of them deserve the accolade of “All Star” more than The Flyin’ Hawaiian.

So it is up to you, readers, to vote for Shane.

Go to mlb.com and vote, vote, and vote some more for our beloved centerfielder. No questions asked.

17 Comments on “July 5 Game Recap: Phillies 2, Mets 0”

Tug Haines Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Here right now, eating bbq pork samidges and it looks like 2 dudes making out across thee lot but it’s just a dude and a real ugly broad.
Mand Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
how sweep it is! awesome series.
4DaysRest.com Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
This was exactly what we should be seeing from this team on a daily basis. They are stacked with talent and they’ve been underperforming for the last month or so. If this is the Rollins and Lidge that I’m going to see for the rest of the season, this team is once again the instant favorite to win the World Series.
PhiPhan5648 Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
@4DR, seriously. If this is the Lidge and Rollins we can expect, then this looking good.

Oh… and I’ve voted a hundred times thus far for Victorino, so get out there an vote people!
bigmyc Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
It’d be good to see Vic in the ASG…Reynolds will have his fair share of them in the future.

But fellas; not to be a killjoy; are the Pets the cream puffinest series the Fightins will play in a long while?

I’ll let the All Star To Be answer that;

NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
PhiPhan5648 Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
@bigmyc, they might not be. But they’ve been our biggest rival, and heating up against them, and using them as a tune-up team is even better.
Tug Haines Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
It doesn’t matter if it’s 10 years from now and both teams are fighting for 4th place, a series sweep against the Mets is always a great thing, no questions asked.
tofoomeister Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
This series calls for a little Phillies Gothic. Nothing like being up 6-4 in the ugly hat bet (Mets/Phils regular season head-to head record; loser comes to winner’s city wearing the winner’s city’s team hat) I have with my cousin.

Also, four games against the Reds. Watching on TV tomorrow but will be there for the fireworks Friday.
tofoomeister Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
GUH! Fireworks are Thursday against the Reds.
Phils Phan Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
+1 on the Phillies Gothic shot.
Mike P Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Regardless of how many Mets are in the DL, the Phils still had to face one of the best pitchers in baseball last night. The best part of the series is that even Pujols wouldn’t have hit the stuff that Lidge was throwing last night. Great series by the Phils to get back on track. Let’s see if they can build on it during the rest of the homestand.
tofoomeister Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 1:19 am
thanks, phils phan. we would have done it better — with a real camera instead of a phone cam, a better angle, and some more apropos gear (for example, if I happened to own a PELOTA NO REGRESA birdland/fightins tee) — but we needed to take the shot quickly to send some MMS smack to my cousin
mplant Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 9:17 am
@tofoomeister,

There’s fireworks on Friday against the Pirates, too
bigmyc Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I don’t know, a win is always welcome..a sweep even more so. But, the much of the luster is gone from a victory over this pathetic Mets team.

I disagree about this rivalry thing. It certainly is a large one, but really only when the two teams are actually half way competitive. Let’s face it, for the last coupla years, it’s been as white hot as Boston-NY Yankees but before and now, it is flagging a little, dont cha think?

I’m just calling like I see it.

Now, they do this in August or September with the metros breathing in their earholes, that’ll be some win.

I’m just saying, it appears that the guys are breaking out of their funk, but even a series sweep against a dreadful excuse of a ballclub can’t be that much of a measuring stick….YET.

I just wish Jimie and Lidge would invite Hamels to the Comeback Party.
Here Come Da Judge Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
who’s jimie?
PhiPhan5648 Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
@bigmyc, I personally grew up hating the Braves moreso than the Mets. Lest we not forget, that they dominated the division for years, and years. I feel like it’s going to come down to them, and us in the end. Their pitching staff is just phenomenal this year, and if Chipper can light his bat afire again, it’s going to be a race.
bigmyc Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
PhilPhan, you and me both.

I live in Georgia these days. As you can imagine, October was filthy sweet for me.