The bone chip in Vance's elbow is not affecting his pitching, according to Vance. But, his performance has been on a downhill spiral for the entire month of August. In his previous four starts, Vance went 0-3 allowing at least six hits in all of those starts. It didn't get much better tonight.
In the first inning, the Vanimal allowed three straight hits, the third resulting in an RBI for David Wright, an RBI single. Vance ended the inning with a double play, which he desperately needed.
The Phillies came right back (sort of) at the Mets in the home half of the first. Jimmy Rollins walked, Kevin Frandsen was hit by a pitch, and Chase Utley walked to juice up the bases for Ryan Howard. Ryan launched his 11th career grandslam into section 102 in right field. 4-1 Phils just like that.
All was quiet until the fourth when Mike Baxter sent a two-run jack to right, bringing the Mets within one. It was Baxter's first homer of the season.
In the next inning, David Wright brought home a run with a sac fly, tying up the ballgame. That would be it for Vance Worley. His line: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. 60 pitches tonight, 44 for strikes.
Chase Utley gave the Phillies a 5-4 lead in the fifth with a solo home run to Utley's corner in right field.
Josh Lindblom walked one in the eighth inning before Antonio Bastardo would replace him. Bastardo gave up a double to Kelly Shoppach which scored David Wright.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth inning in 1-2-3 fashion. The Phillies couldn't come back to win in the bottom of the inning, so it was on to extra's.
B.J. Rosenberg came in for the top of the tenth and it wasn't an ideal inning for him or the Phillies. Ike Davis plated David Wright with a double, followed by an RBI single from Lucas Duda. Next, Kelly Shoppach jacked a two-run bomb to left field, pushing the Mets' lead to 9-5.
And that's your ballgame. Not a great one for the Phillies' bullpen sans Papelbon and Raul Valdes.
Tomorrow night, ace Cole Hamels will face Matt Harvey, the rookie. 7:05 start time.
