Joe Blanton took the hill at Citi Field tonight against Jeremy Hefner, who was making his second major league start. After two straight rough outings from Joe, it wouldn't get easier in another frustrating game.
The Phillies jumped out in front scoring a run in the first on a wild pitch. The Mets came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from David Wright, and an RBI single from Daniel Murphy.
Brian Schneider started tonight with Carlos Ruiz on the bench. Ruiz was available to hit, but stayed out of the game with hamstring tightness. Shneids hit the seams off the ball in the top of the second with a solo shot to the Pepsi Porch in right field. Tied ballgame.
To continue this game of cat and mouse, Mike Baxter put the Mets up 3-2 with a double to center field which scored Omar Quintanilla.
Jeremy Hefner did not have a major league hit under his belt up until the fourth inning tonight. On a high fastball, Hefner took Joe Blanton way deep to left field, putting the Mets up by two runs.
With Juan Pierre on first base, Hunter Pence drilled a double to left field which was misplayed by Mike Baxter, allowing Pierre to score. Pence was left on third base with nobody out. So, so, so not good.
Scott Hairston, pinch hitting for Hefner launched a two-run home run to left field off of Blanton, extending the Mets' lead to 6-3.
Blanton was taken out after five innings and 89 pitches. He allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four. Raul Valdes pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the sixth, striking out one.
After a scoreless seventh inning from both Jon Rauch and Jake Diekman, the game went into a rain delay.
…One hour and four minutes later, Joe Savery took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and pitched another scoreless inning.
If you waited through the delay in hopes that you would see a come from behind win, I'm right there with you, and I'm just as disappointed as you are. The Phils couldn't come back from a three-run deficit, dropping game two, 6-3.
Cliff Lee and Dillon Gee tomorrow at 7:15.
