Phillies/Twins Preview & Other Notes

As seen on Phillies Nation.

With the rain pushing back J.A Happ’s start, the Phillies altered their rotation for the week. On Monday, Roy Halladay will start and Jamie Moyer will pitch in a B game. Cole Hamels will pitch on Tuesday, Joe Blanton Wednesday, Kyle Kendrick Friday, and Halladay on Saturday. The Phillies have off on Thursday, when Happ will throw again.

Happ will start in today’s game against the Minnesota Twins. It can be seen on MYPHL 17 and MLB Network at 1:00 p.m. Carl Pavano will take the hill for the Twins.

The Twins lineup will consist of almost all regulars, except Joe Mauer: Denard Span, Orlando Hudson, Justin Morneau, Jim Thome, Michael Cuddyer, Wilson Ramos, Delmon Young, J.J Hardy and Nick Punto.

For the Phillies, all the regulars are in the lineup for the first time this spring: Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Ben Francisco, and Carlos Ruiz.

Other Notes:

Phillippe Aumont, Yohan Flande, Scott Mathieson, Drew Naylor, J.C Ramirez, Jesus Sanchez, Joe Savery, Bill White, Tuffy Gosewisch, Kevin Nelson, John Suomi, Freddy Galvis, Quentin Berry and Tyson Gillies have all been re-assigned to minor league camp.

Scott Matheison is the most surprising name on the list. Ruben Amaro said that Matheison could appear in the big leagues in 2010, but also said that he needed to “refine” his secondary pitches.

It is still uncertain if J.C Romero and Brad Lidge will be ready by April 5. Romero says not to count him out for Opening Day, although it appears to be a long shot at this point.

Romero threw 30 pitches yesterday, and mixed in a few changeups. Romero will start throwing sliders tomorrow.

Today, Lidge threw to a few hitters. On Monday, Lidge will likely throw in a minor league game. Both Lidge and Romero see progress.

Year In Review: Howard's NLDS Sac Fly

Swing and a Long Drive will be looking at some of 2009's top moments. We had a similar "Year in Review" last year, but instead of month-by-month, we'll look at some of the top games. They are also a part of Phillies Nation's Top 25 Moments of 2009.

The third game of the National League Division Series was truly one for the ages. It had to wait an extra day due to snow, but for four hours and six minutes, the Phillies and the Rockies see-sawed in one of the most well played games of the postseason.

Chase Utley opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning. The Rockies answered back off J.A Happ, who couldn't seem to find a rhythm. It wasn't often Happ struggled, but the frigid temperatures got to Happ. He lasted only three innings, surrendering three runs.

The Phillies finally got to Jason Hammel in the fourth. Howard stroked a RBI single, Raul Ibanez drew a bases loaded walk, and Carlos Ruiz slapped a single to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. After Carlos Gonzalez tied the game with a home run (he gave the Phillies plenty of trouble during the NLDS), Chooch delivered again to continue his unbelievable postseason hitting. But again, the Rockies tied it.

In the ninth inning, Chase Utley checked his swing, and the baseball bounced off his foot. However, the umpires missed the call (like they did so many times during the postseason), and a hustling Utley was ruled safe at first. Ryan Howard followed with a deep sacrifice fly that scored Jimmy Rollins from third. The Phillies took a 6-5 lead, and Brad Lidge completed the save despite allowing a couple base runners.

It is notable that Game 3 was the coldest game in playoff history, and it wasn't over until 2:14 AM Eastern time. The Phillies took a 2-1 series lead, and Philadelphia fans could finally get some sleep -- but it was worth the late night.

Other Top Moments: The Phillies had some exciting moments against the New York Mets. One includes Chase Utley's game winning home run into "Utley's Corner." Another is Raul Ibanez's tenth inning home run. Pelota, no regressa!

AL & NL ROYs

J.A Happ finished second in the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year voting. Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins won the award, receiving 105 points (17 first place votes). Happ finished with a total of 94 points (10 first place votes).

In 128 games, Coghlan batted .321 with nine home runs and 47 RBI. In 35 games, Happ went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA.

In the American League, Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A's took home honors. Bailey finished with 88 total points, edging Elvis Andrus.

Bailey saved 26 games and posted a 1.84 ERA.

Rookie of the Year Candidates

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Tomorrow, the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year will be announced. Here are some of the top candidates for the award:

J.A Happ (PHI): 12-4, 166 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 119 SO, .244 AVG

There is no clear cut favorite. However, Happ has the numbers to make him a top Rookie of the Year choice.

Tommy Hanson (ATL): 11-4, 127.2 IP, 2.83 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 116 SO, .225 AVG

Happ's advantage in innings may give him the edge over Hanson.

Randy Wells (CHC): 12-10, 165.1 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 104 SO, .261 AVG

The Cubs didn't give Wells much run support this year. In some cases, the voters take a team's performance in account, and the Cubs aren't helping Wells' campaign.

Chris Coghlan (FLA): 128 G, .321 AVG, 9 HR, .850 OPS

Phillies fans know enough about this guy. The question is whether his offensive numbers compete with the pitchers' stats

Garrett Jones (PIT): 82 G, .293 AVG, 21 HR, .938 OPS

Jones did not play in many games, so that may hurt his campaign. However, the 28-year old has showed his power in his limited major league experience.

Andrew McCutchen (PIT): 108 G, .286 AVG, 22 SB, .836 OPS

He's the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates. But he is in the same boat as Jones. Does he have enough playing time to get enough votes?

Colby Rasmus (STL): 147 G, .251 AVG, 16 HR, .717 OPS

Rasmus doesn't matchup with the other candidates. His batting average and on-base plus slugging percentage are mediocre at best.

Casey McGehee (MIL): 116 G, .301 AVG, 16 HR, .859 OPS

McGehee has put up some solid offensive numbers, but his defense may factor in. He spent the majority at third base, where he had a .916 fielding percentage.

Ryan Howard was the last Phillie to win the Rookie of the Year award. Will Happ follow his footsteps?

NLDS Game 3 Preview

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) at Colorado Rockies (1-1)
J.A Happ, LHP (0-0) vs. Jason Hammel, RHP (0-0)

There has been much anticipation for the third game of the series, and the wait is finally over. Originally scheduled for Saturday night, snow postponed the National League Division Series. Play returns tonight with better weather conditions.

Cole Hamels' hanging curveball to Yorvit Torreabla is the main reason why this series is locked at one. The Phillies had an opportunity to take advantage of their home turf, but now they'll have to carry their road success into the postseason. The Phillies were a National League (tied with the Los Angeles Angels for MLB) best 48-33 away from The Bank this season.

Pedro Martinez was originally scheduled to pitch game three, but thanks to the postponement, J.A Happ will be handed the ball. Happ was struck in the knee during a relief appearance on Thursday, forcing him to exit the game. Happ suffered from a contusion, but insisted on being fine. The rookie, who won 12 games with a sub-3 ERA, will make his first postseason start. On August 5, Happ tossed a complete game shutout against the Rockies. In that outing, he struck out ten.

The Rockies opted to go with Jason Hammel, who came over from the Tampa Bay Rays at the very beginning of the season. Hammel went 10-8 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP this season. He started the year in the bullpen, but spent the majority of the season as a starter. Hammel pitched 9.1 innings against the Phillies, including one start. He allowed five earned against the Phillies, whose collective lineup batted .359 against him. Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez each homered off him.

Tonight's game is the most important one yet. A victory would give the Phillies some breathing room, but a loss will make their chances of repeating much more difficult.

Tonight's Lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (LF), Ibanez (LF), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C), Happ (P).

Game 3 Postponed

Game three of the National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies has been postponed due to snow.

The game is rescheduled for Sunday night at 10:07 p.m EST. Game four has been moved to Monday.

The postponement could turn out to be a good thing for the Phillies. Pedro Martinez was originally slated, but J.A Happ will start tomorrow. Also, Cliff Lee will have enough rest to make him a possibility to start on Monday.

Jamie Moyer will be released from the hospital today. Moyer has been in the hospital since Wednesday due to a type of blood infection. Ruben Amaro Jr. said that Moyer is okay.

Blog of Note: We Should be GM's celebrated the end of the decade by putting together the "Team of the 2000's."

Call of the Day: Jimmy Rollins' first major league hit.

"Jimmy Rollins is going to have his first major league hit. Off the fence and
watch him fly! It's going to be a triple! Rollins... heading for third... Head
first slide. He's there with a triple!"

Hamels Struggles; Rockies Even Series

As seen on Phillies Nation.

A perfect record at home last postseason was a key factor in last year’s World Championship. Today, the Phillies lost their first playoff game at home since 2007. The Rockies edged the Phillies, 5-4, evening the series at a game apiece.

Last October, Hamels stepped up as the big game pitcher. Today, he looked more like the pitcher that went 0-6 during day games than the one who earned the NLCS and World Series MVP.

Hamels cruised through the first three innings, allowing a run on a fielder’s choice. A curveball that hung over the plate to Yorvit Torrealba changed everything. Torrealba’s two-run home run gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead and silenced the crowd for most of the game.

Hamels was finished after five, and left the ballpark to be with his wife who went into labor. Hamels allowed four earned runs on seven hits and struck out five.

It took awhile for the offense to wake up. Ryan Howard’s RBI double and Raul Ibanez’s RBI single made it a one-run game. The rally was killed when Carlos Ruiz grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Phillies grounded into a total of three double plays in game two.

Charlie Manuel showed his lack of confidence in his bullpen by using starters Joe Blanton and J.A Happ. Happ entered the game after Blanton got into a jam, but exited after being struck by a line drive. He suffered a knee contusion and X-Rays were negative. Scott Eyre was able to escape the jam, only allowing a sacrifice fly. An inning later, Antonio Bastardo struck out Jason Giambi with the bases loaded and two outs to end the threat.

Dexter Fowler sacrifice flied twice to add onto the Rockies’ lead. Jayson Werth homered in the eighth inning, cutting the lead to one. The ninth inning became interesting when Matt Stairs walked and Jimmy Rollins singled, but the Phillies fell short against Huston Street.

The outcome is frustrating, but there are a few positives to take from today; Cole Hamels did not walk a batter and the Phillies went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The series heads to Colorado on Saturday, where it is expected to snow. Using Blanton and Happ makes Pedro Martinez the favorite to start, but also questions Charlie Manuel’s managing style during Game 2.

Final Tuneup Before NLDS

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

Florida Marlins (87-74) at Philadelphia Phillies (92-69)
Josh Johnson (15-5) vs. J.A Happ (12-4)

This is it. Game number 162. The final game of the regular season. It will be the Phillies final tuneup before facing the Colorado Rockies in the National League Division Series on Wednesday.

J.A Happ will make his final campaign for the Rookie of the Year Award, but he may also be pitching for a spot in the postseason rotation. "When I think about it, you want him in [the rotation] because he is a starter, but missing [J.C] Romero ... if [Happ] pitches one inning in three days, he could come back and pitch on his regular turn. I'm not saying we're going to do that, but that does enter my mind," Charlie Manuel said.

It is unlikely Happ will pitch more than six innings today. He'll pitch long enough so he doesn't become rusty, but short enough to avoid an injury. It will also allow relievers to audition for a spot on the playoff roster. Happ pitched seven shutout innings when he last faced the Marlins.

Happ will be opposed by the Marlins' ace, Josh Johnson. Johnson is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA against the Phillies this year. In 18 innings, Johnson has struck out 24 Phillies. Phillies hitters are batting .212 against him.

It is Fan Appreciation Day at Citizens Bank Park. The fans would really appreciate a win, ending the season on a positive note. Being swept is not a good way to enter the postseason.

Today's Lineup: Cairo 2B, Dobbs 3B, Werth RF, Stairs LF, Francisco CF, Tracy 1B, Bruntlett SS, Bako C, Happ P

Feliz Slams Past 'Stros

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Wilton Lopez made a huge mistake by hanging a slider to Pedro Feliz. Feliz took advantage and sent the pitch into the left field seats. The salami and Ryan Madson's six-out save led the Phillies to a 7-4 victory.

J.A Happ pitched better than his line indicated. In 5.2 innings, he allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out six. Happ became the first Phillies rookie to win 12 games since 1959. Happ made two mistakes: a down and in fastball to Lance Berkman and a middle-in fastball to Kaz Matsui. Both pitches resulted in home runs.

Jimmy Rollins' 42nd double of the season put the Phillies on the board, but it was Feliz who provided the big blow. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Feliz jumped on the first pitch and took it for a ride. The grand slam put the Phillies ahead, 5-1. It was Feliz's second grand slam of the year, and it extended the franchise record for most grand slams in a season (11). The rally towels proudly waved and it was loud for the rest of the night.

In the fifth inning, Jayson Werth added insurance with a two-run home run. The runs proved to be key since the ninth inning is always nerve-racking.

Jamie Moyer ate 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. However, on the last pitch he threw, he fell to the ground with a groin injury.

Ryan Madson threw nine pitches in the eighth inning, and returned to the mound in the ninth to a standing ovation. Madson allowed two singles, but struck out Hunter Pence to end the game. Madson did a perfect job of mixing his pitches and locating them in the right spots.

The Florida Marlins took care of business in Atlanta, beating the Braves 5-4. This means that the magic number is down to one.

Manuel Has Meeting as Phils Try to Rebound

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

Houston Astros (73-83) at Philadelphia Phillies (90-66)
Wilton Lopez, RHP (0-0, 8.44 ERA) vs. J.A Happ, LHP (11-4, 2.79 ERA)

The Houston Astros always seem to torture the Phillies in September, but don't jump off the bandwagon yet! The beauty of baseball is that there is always a tomorrow. After a painful loss on Monday, the Phillies will try to rebound.

Last night, the Phillies struggled against Yorman Bazardo. Once again, they'll be seeing a new face. Wilton Lopez is making his first major league start. In 10.2 innings in relief, the rookie has struggled mightily. He has allowed 20 hits and his ERA is over eight. Over the course of the year, the Phillies' bats have been silent against young pitchers that they've never faced before, even if they own high ERA's.

J.A Happ will try to help his case for the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award. The left-hander is seeking his twelfth win of the year. Opponents have batted .236 against him this season. Happ has been the stopper. He is a perfect 7-0 after Phillies losses.

Charlie Manuel did most of the talking during a closed-door meeting this afternoon. Hopefully that will pump up the team and get them back on the right track. Manuel later said to the media: "Ever since I’ve been in baseball, I’ve been a fighter and I’ve come to whip your [butt] every day.” So let's whip some Astro-butt tonight.

Tonight's lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Ibanez (LF), Werth (RF), Feliz (3B), Bako (C) and Happ (P).

Is There An Answer?

Originally featured on Phillies Nation.

On Wednesday night, Brad Lidge blew his league leading, eleventh save of the year. Should Brad Lidge continue to close? Most of us can agree that the answer is no. The question remains: who should fill his role? There is no answer; at least I don't have one.

Lidge can not continue to close games, but he will. Charlie insists on "sticking to his guy." Many believe that Lidge will be left off the postseason roster, but I do not see it happening. He deserves to be, but if Manuel is letting him close this late in the season, I doubt Lidge will be excluded during the playoffs.

Ryan Madson has struggled in the closer's role, blowing six saves. He was not much better when he filled in for Lidge. He is like LaTroy Hawkins. He can't close, but is a decent set-up man.

Brett Myers is hurt, as well as J.C Romero and Chan Ho Park. The Phillies don't envision Tyler Walker, Chad Durbin or Sergio Escalona as closers.

Phillies Nation mentioned that J.A Happ could close. It would be worth a shot and it is a strong possibility. At this point, anybody is better than Lidge, but no thank you. I think it could work out for the short term, but not for the long term. He doesn't have a go-to strikeout pitch like Lidge's slider (when it's good). I was never a fan of Happ relieving from the beginning. I'd rather get 6+ scoreless innings from Happ than one.

The closing situation is a big issue. It will be impossible for the Phillies to go deep into the postseason with this reoccurring nightmare. The bullpen is a problem, but answers are scarce.

Phillies Injury Updates

Here is the latest injury news, as seen on Phillies Nation:

◦J.A Happ left Friday’s game after tweaking his oblique. However, Happ said he was fine and that he did not tweak his muscle nor experience any pain. Charlie Manuel removed him for “pre-cautionary reasons”.

◦Carlos Ruiz left Friday’s game with a sprained left wrist. Ruiz’s wrist has been bothering him for a few days, but he aggravated it on a close play at the plate. Ruiz stayed in after the play, but left the game in the sixth inning. X-Rays were negative. Although he is not in tonight’s lineup, Manuel does not expect him to miss a significant amount of time.

◦Ryan Howard was hit by a pitch in the forearm last night. He was hit in the same spot a night earlier. Howard said he was sore and that he would wait and see if he could play today. As of now, he is in tonight’s lineup.

◦Scott Eyre (left elbow) threw a bullpen session today. His session went well and he hopes to pitch on Tuesday. He will have surgery after the season.

◦J.C Romero (strained left forearm) also threw a bullpen session. Romero will report to Clearwater tomorrow for a week. Rich Dubee liked what he saw from both Eyre and Romero.

◦Chan Ho Park, who pulled his hamstring, reportedly played catch in the outfield today.

◦Shane Victorino (gastrointestinal problems) is not in tonight’s lineup. However, he claimed that he is “no longer sick.”

◦Jack Taschner has a mid-back strain. He is rehabbing in Clearwater.

Phillies Look To Add onto Division Lead

Philadelphia Phillies (85-60) at Atlanta Braves (78-68)

J.A Happ (10-4, 2.77 EA) vs. Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.63 ERA)

Fresh off their sweep of the Washington Nationals, the Phillies travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves. This is a big series for both teams. The Phillies can lower their magic number (10), but the Braves can pick up ground. Currently, the Phillies stand 7.5 games above the Braves in the National League East.

J.A Happ will make his first start since September 2. Happ missed two starts due to a strained oblique. The lefty will try to help his Rookie of the Year campaign as he seeks his eleventh win of the season. Happ is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA against the Braves this season. Braves hitters are batting .190 against him.

Happ will be opposed by Tim Hudson, who has made three starts since returning from Tommy John Surgery. Hudson has been up in down against his division rivals. He is 4-5 with a 3.79 ERA in his career versus the Phillies, but in his most recent start, he pitched 7.2 innings allowing only one run. Ryan Howard is batting .323 against him in his career. Who could forget his three homer game against Hudson in 2006?

Shane Victorino is out with gastrointestinal problems. Ben Francisco will start in place of Victorino.

Offense Can't Buy a Run

As seen on Phillies Nation.

What comes around goes around. Last night, Cole Hamels pitched a complete game shutout against the San Francisco Giants. Tonight, the Giants shutout the Phillies, 4-0.

You know your offense is going bad when the telecast finds a shot Jupiter before any runs are scored. Perhaps that is where the Phillies offense went. They've scored only 11 runs in the last six games. They were shutout for the fifth time this season. The last time they were shutout was on August 1, against tomorrow's starter, Tim Lincecum.

J.A Happ didn't necessarily pitch poorly, although he did give up four runs for the first time since July 24, when he allowed five runs against St. Louis. He played Houdini for the first four innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth and sixth.

Andres Torres did what the Phillies did not do: drive in a runner in scoring position. In the fifth inning, the Giants took a 1-0 lead with his RBI single up the middle. Juan Uribe and Aaron Rowand hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth extending the lead to 4-0.

Happ's line: 6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO.

Brad Penny returned to the National League in grand fashion, pitching eight scoreless innings. He gave up five hits, walked one, and struck out two. He was able to get the Phillies to ground out 13 times, including two double play balls. Penny, who was cut by the Red Sox, has not lasted eight innings since 2007.

There's no denying that the Phillies offense is in a major funk. Luckily, the pitching has kept them close during the rough patch. It's cliche, but you can't win if you don't score.

Phils Have Advantage Against Penny

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

San Francisco Giants (72-60) at Philadelphia Phillies (76-53)
Brad Penny (7-8, 5.61) vs. J.A Happ (10-3, 2.63 ERA)

The Giants newest acquisition, Brad Penny, will be making his first start since August 21. In his last start with the Red Sox, Penny was roughed up by the Yankees for eight runs in four innings. Bruce Bochy, the Giants manager, said he would be satisfied with five innings from the righty.

In 20 games against the Phillies, Penny is 8-4 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Most of that success came with the Marlins before he was plagued with injuries. The Phillies only scored one run last night. It was enough for the win, but the Phillies need to score more runs than that. The offense has a perfect opportunity to explode against a struggling Penny.

Cole Hamels threw a complete game shutout last night. J.A Happ has a couple of those on his resume. He would like to become the first Phillies rookie to win 11 games since 1980. Happ has never faced the Giants in his career, but if he continues his consistency he should be able to handle the Giants weak lineup.

Pirates Take Series With Late Comeback

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have nothing to play for. Being in last place (19 games under .500, 19 games back), the Pirates can only play spoiler. The Phillies swept the Pirates in July, but the Pirates wanted redemption. They welcomed in the reigning World Champs, and embarrassed them.

The Phillies had an excellent opportunity to knock around Charlie Morton right from the chute. The Phillies only had one run to show in a bases loaded, nobody out situation. Ryan Howard’s RBI ground out put the Phillies on the board, but Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez each popped out to end the threat. The Phillies added another run in the second inning on Paul Bako’s (2-2, 2 BB) homer.

Andrew McCutchen greeted J.A Happ with a lead-off home run. After that, Happ didn’t allow anything– until the eighth inning.

The Phillies learned about Garrett Jones at Citizens Bank Park, when he homered in each game of a three game series. With two outs in the eighth, he struck again. His two-run homer to center field gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Other than the two homers, Happ pitched well. He pitched eight innings giving up three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out four.

With a struggling closer in Matt Capps, the Phillies had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the ninth. Matt Stairs represented the go-ahead run, but he’d have to snap an 0-for-24 streak . The last time he had gotten a hit was on July 11, when he homered against Capps. It wasn’t meant to be, because although he swung for the fences, he struck out.

Jimmy Rollins grounded out to end the game. The offense struggled all series long. When the Phillies bats are hot, they’re on fire. When they’re cold, they’re frozen. The offense has been very streaky and they’ve become too reliant on the home run.

Expecting to sweep, the Phillies learned they can not take the Pirates lightly. With the 3-2 loss, the Phillies now have a record of 9-13 at PNC Park since 2002. The Phillies have a history of falling to bad teams, but they still have a comfortable lead in the division.

Phils/Bucs Rubber-Match Preview

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

Philadelphia Phillies (73-51) at Pittsburgh Pirates (52-72)
J.A Happ (10-2, 2.59ERA) vs. Charlie Morton (3-6, 5.21 ERA)

The Phillies and Pirates will play the rubber-match game of the series tonight. Even though the Pirates are a last place team, they've kept pace with the Phillies during this series. The games have been close and down to the wire.

The Phillies will hand the ball to J.A Happ, who has the lowest ERA of any rookie since Hideo Nomo in 1995. He has been one of the most consistent starters, and isn't phased when runners reach base. Happ allowed one run in seven innings when he faced the Buccos in July. He limited them to four hits, and walked two.

Charlie Morton gave up two runs in 6.1 innings in his last outing, rebounding from a game in which he allowed ten runs in one inning. Morton faced the Phillies last season and gave up five runs in two innings. Shane Victorino homered off him. Victorino, the team's leading hitter, is batting just .222 in the last seven days.

The offense needs to provide Happ with run support, something they've lacked in the past two games. With the ninth inning troubles, it would be nice for the Phillies to get a comfortable lead, big enough so that it is a non-save situation.

Tonight's lineup: Rollins (SS)/ Victorino (CF)/ Utley (2B)/ Howard (1B)/ Werth (RF)/ Ibanez (LF)/ Feliz (3B)/ Bako (C) Happ (P).

Call of the Day: An exciting finish in an extra inning game in 1989 on Bob Dernier's inside the parker.

"Line drive. It is a fair ball down the left field line, going all the way to to
the corner! Here comes Thon into score. Lake being waved around. Mitchell can't
pick it up! Lake scores, here comes Dernier! The throw to the plate... safe! I
can't believe it! The Phillies have won 3-2 in the bottom half of the 12th
inning! Incredible! Mitchell could not pick the ball up down in the corner, it
kicked away from him. Dernier has circled the bases! Bedlam here at Veterans
Stadium, when all looked lost! The Phightin' came back and won, 3 to 2!"

Utley’s Homer Diminishes Redding’s Outing

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The most home runs a Met has at Citi Field is five (Gary Sheffield, David Wright, and Fernando Tatis). Chase Utley, a visiting player, now has four. Chase's home run into "Utley's Corner" put the Phillies ahead after Tim Redding continued his dominance against the Phillies.

In the second, the Mets took a 1-0 lead on Omir Santos' RBI single. J.A Happ was not electric, but that was all he allowed in seven innings. He gave up eight hits and walked two, but stranded runners. The Mets abandoned seven men on base and were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, thanks to Happ's composure and poise. He does not get ruffled when batters reach base.

While Happ stranded runners, Redding barely allowed any. Redding has killed the Phillies over the years, including shutouts and one-hitters. He was just as controlling today. In five scoreless innings, he allowed one hit and walked three. Because of a high pitch count (81) and a previous injury, Jerry Manuel decided to pull him after five. It worked out for the Phillies.

Pat Misch, who replaced Redding, walked Shane Victorino to lead off the sixth inning. He left a 1-1 fastball middle-in to Utley, who knocked it into the right field seats. The two-run shot gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead, and they didn't look back.

The Phillies extended the lead on back-to-back doubles by Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz. Carlos Ruiz's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning made it 4-1.

With a three-run lead headed into the bottom of the ninth, it was Brad Lidge time. Blowing eight saves and having an earned run average over seven this season, save situations haven't been easy for Lidge. But, Lidge showed his 2008 form with a 1-2-3 save, his 24th of the year. To start the inning, Lidge struck out Daniel Murphy; it was his 700th career strikeout and it set the tone.
Cory Sullivan chased a slider in the dirt and Ruiz fired to first on the drop third strike to end the game. The Phillies took game two of the series, 4-1. There were plenty of Phillies fans in attendance to witness the victory, including Phillies Nation's buses of fans, who represented Philadelphia well with plenty of "Let's go Phillies!" chants.

Happ on Hill for Game 2

For full gameday, visit Phillies Nation.

Philadelphia Phillies (69-50) at New York Mets (57-65)
J.A Happ (9-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. Tim Redding (1-4, 6.53 ERA)

As shown in game one of the four game series, the Mets aren't a team to take lightly, even though they are 13.5 games out and depleted with injuries. It's a true rivalry, and both teams want to beat each other.

Happ's last start started two hours late because of rain. In that outing against the Braves, Happ pitched 7.2 innings. He allowed three hits, but walked six. No Phillies starter has walked a batter since Happ on Sunday.

Happ will be opposed by Phillie-killer, Tim Redding. In the last two seasons, Redding is 3-1 with a 3.50 earned run average against the Phils. That ERA is high-- he only had one bad outing against them. He has shut them out twice, including a one-hitter against them.

Call of the Day: Before Nolan Ryan went onto strike out 5,714, Steve Carlton moved ahead of him.

"Struck 'em out! Number 3,522, Steve Carlton! He has surpassed Nolan
Ryan for the all time Major League strike out king!"

Francisco's Homer Makes Up For Lidge

It was fitting that Ben Francisco caught Alfonso Soriano's fly ball to end the game. After all, Francisco played hero by picking up the pieces for an offense that continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, and a closer that failed at a save attempt.

The Cubs were the first to get on the board. Jake Fox's RBI single in the third and Soriano's sacrifice fly gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

J.A Happ allowed only two runs, but wasn't the J.A we're used to seeing. He lacked command, but wiggled out of jams. He gave up seven hits, walked four, and struck out three in six innings. A couple key double plays helped Happ avoid further damage as the Cubs left a total of 12 men on base throughout the evening.

On the other hand, Rich Harden was dealing. He was perfect through five innings. In the sixth, Carlos Ruiz drew a huge walk. Not only did it end the perfect game, but Jimmy Rollins followed with a home run to end the no-hitter and the shutout. The homer tied the game at two.

The Phillies were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. However, an important run came without a hit. Ruiz drew another big walk. Shane Victorino was plunked, and Chase Utley walked to load the bases.

Surprisingly, Lou Pineilla did not have a left-handed pitcher ready to face the Phillies lefties. Instead, he left it up to Carlos Marmol, who was having trouble finding the strike zone. Patient, Ryan Howard drew a walk to bring the run home. The Phillies took a 3-2 lead.

Lidge has the highest earned run average and the most blown saves among any reliever in baseball. The Phillies would have liked some insurance. Ruiz came close to it-- well, not really. Ruiz hit a fly ball to left field that was clearly foul. Originally, the umpire ruled it fair, but it was reviewed and overturned. Ruiz grounded out to end the inning.

Lidge started the ninth by walking Kosuke Fukudome. With the wind blowing in, the Cubs played small ball, and Ryan Theroit bunted him over. Next, Milton Bradly singled which drove in Fukudome. It tied the game at three, and Lidge blew another save. Lidge didn't give up anything else, so the game headed to extra innings.

Tyler Walker and Scott Eyre did a tremendous job keeping the game knotted at three. In the 11th, it looked like Milton Bradley won the game for the Cubs as he started his trot around the bases. Victorino lined up against the ivy wall and made the catch. Walker and Eyre got hitters out and gave the offense a chance.

Kevin Gregg left a curveball in Francisco's wheelhouse, and he drove a bomb into the left field basket. The Phillies took a 4-3 lead in the twelfth inning on Francisco's twelfth home run of the year. Francisco now has more homers in the month of August (2) than Utley, Howard, and Raul Ibanez combined (0).

Chad Durbin finished with the save to secure the 4-3 win. It was a long night filled with a range of emotions, but the Phillies pulled this one off.