After winning in 14 innings on Friday night, the Phillies (24-30) lost in 14 innings yesterday to the Mets (27-29). The Phillies entered today looking for redemption and to force a rubber match in game five of this five-game series. In order to have a chance, the Phillies sent ace Cole Hamels (1-3 4.43 ERA) to the hill. Hamels, in his last outing, went seven innings, gave up one run, until he was victim of a three-run home run in the seventh. The Mets countered with veteran starter, Jon Niese (3-3 2.74 ERA). In Niese’s last start, he only went 5.2 innings, but gave up just two runs to the Pirates.
The Game: The Mets were the first team to get on the board. In the fourth inning, David Wright led off with a double to center field. Eric Campbell then hit an infield single to put runners on the corners. Chris Young followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Wright. 1-0 Mets
The Mets wouldn’t hold the lead for long. With one out, Carlos Ruiz doubled to left to set up Ryan Howard. Howard crushed the ball to deep center for a two-run shot to give the Phillies the lead. 2-1 Phillies
Cole Hamels couldn’t hold the lead in the sixth. Eric Campbell led off with a double and Chris Young reached on throwing error by Jimmy Rollins to put runners on the corners. Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. 2-2 Tie
After both teams failed to score after the sixth inning, the game was sent to extra innings for the third day in a row. The Phillies and Mets had split those games, with both going 14 innings.
In the top of the eleventh, newly called up Phillippe Aumont took the hill getting the first two outs easily. But then, he walked Travis d’Arnaud. Lucas Duda would make him pay with a two-run homer to center to give the Mets the lead. In the bottom of the inning, Rollins led off by flying out to center. Marlon Byrd homered to left to cut the Mets lead in half with one out, only to have Carlos Ruiz pop out in foul territory on the first pitch, leaving it up to Ryan Howard. However, Howard grounded out to first, sealing the victory for New York, 4-3.
Significant Offensive Stats:
Marlon Byrd 1-5 HR
Carlos Ruiz 2-5 R
Ryan Howard 1-4 HR 2 RBI
Impact: With today’s loss ,the Phillies drop the series to the Mets. Phillippe Aumont got two quick outs, but has again proven that he is a major bust from the Cliff Lee trade. It was nice see Cole Hamels have another good outing, even though it was wasted. Ryan Howard is also continuing to hit home runs, which is a positive, as his bat is slowly heating up as we head into the summer months.
Up Next: Tomorrow, the Phillies and Mets close out the long series with the Phillies looking to salvage one more game. The Phillies will send fifth starter, Roberto Hernandez (2-2 3.76 ERA), to the hill. Hernandez went 5.2 innings against the Rockies giving up two runs on six hits his last time out. He will be opposed by veteran right-hander, Bartolo Colon (4-5 4.73 ERA). Colon won his last start ,going 7.1 innings giving up no runs to the Pirates.
Andrew Shipotofsky is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on twitter @Ashipotofsky
