reCAP: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies

4/9/13

The Phillies welcome their first divisional opponent at Citizens Bank Park this season. That opponent happens to be a divisional rival in the Mets. The Phillies had another tough loss in their last game. They had another 4-0 lead and the wheels fell off as Hamels allowed eight runs to the Royals. They were close to coming back from a 9-4 deficit, but they were one run shy as they lost 9-8. Coming into this game, the Phillies had a 2-4 record while the Mets were 4-2. The Mets have had an easy schedule playing the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres. They both are inferior teams. The Phillies have had a tougher schedule playing the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals. The Mets did not make any major free agent signings in the offseason, but they traded away their Cy Young Award pitcher from a year ago. The Mets traded away R.A. Dickey, and both of their catchers from last year in Josh Thole, and Mike Nikeas to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Catcher John Buck, and three other prospects. Roy Halladay started for the Phillies and he would not like to remember most of his previous outing. He struck out nine Braves batters, but only lasted 3 1/3 innings. The question for Halladay is whether Humberto Quintero could be a better catcher than Erik Kratz? I ask this because there seems to be a lack of communication between Kratz and Halladay. Halladay said after his last start that he threw a pitch that Justin Upton hit a homerun “half-heartedly.” This sparked controversy on whether he and Kratz gel as teammates. Matt Harvey took the mound for the Mets and he is looking like a potential replacement for Johan Santana.

It was not a good night for Halladay. After the first inning, the game started to unravel for him. Buck hit a three-run homerun in the second inning and the bleeding began. He hit his homerun on a cutter that did not cut. In the third inning, Halladay walked two men which led to an RBI single into center field by Lucas Duda to make it a 4-0 game.

The Phillies had a chance to cut into this 4-0 deficit in the fourth inning, but they only scored one run instead of multiple runs. Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly and Jimmy Rollins strolled his way home.

In the fifth, Halladay allowed a ground-rule double to David Murphy. Murphy advanced to third on a wild pitch and David Wright laced an RBI single into left field to make it a 5-1 game. Chad Durbin relieved Halladay after he allowed a single to Ike Davis to have two runners on base. Just when you think Durbin could do the impossible and come out of an inning unscathed, he allowed Ruben Tejada to hit a two-run RBI single into center field. It was a 7-1 game and it looked like the Phillies simply gave up. The runs Durbin allowed were charged to Halladay because the two baserunners that scored were put on base by Halladay. Halladay went 4 plus innings, allowed six hits, seven runs, walked three, and struck out three batters.

The Phillies bullpen was surprisingly good this game. In total, the bullpen trio of Durbin, Jeremy Horst, and Raul Valdes pitched five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out six batters.

Harvey pitched seven solid innings. He allowed three hits, one run, walked two, and struck out nine batters. Josh Edgin relieved Harvey and he pitched well too. Edgin allowed an RBI groundout to Rollins in the eighth inning. It made the score, which ultimately turned out to be the final score of 7-2. Edgin pitched the final two innings, allowed one hit, one run, and struck out one batter.

Overall, Halladay yet again lacked command on his pitches. His cutter was flat and was not cutting at all. It was similar to throwing a straight slow ball. This time blame can’t be put on the catcher like it was in his last start. The offense didn’t help either, but Harvey showed why he is such a promising young ace. The Mets fans are thinking Johan who? Harvey has an electrifying fastball that tops out in the high 90’s and mixes that with his curveball, slider, and changeup.

Is Roy Halladay dwindling before our eyes, or is it too early to make that judgment? Sound off and stay tuned to the next game as Cliff Lee takes the mound for the Phillies and Dillon Gee is on the mound for the Mets.