Wheeler-dealer shuts down Phillies 5-4

After last night’s offensive explosion, the Phillies were stifled as the New York Mets beat them on Saturday, 5-4 at Citi Field.

The Phillies jumped on Mets starter Zack Wheeler, as Jimmy Rollins jumped on a 2-0 fastball, and launched his 5^th home run of the season over a leaping Marlon Byrd in right center field, to make the score 1-0. The home run was Rollins 45^th career leadoff home run.

The Mets countered in the bottom half. Daniel Murphy hit a line double to right with one out, then David Wright walked, and on ball four Murphy stole third and put men on the corners. Then, on the first pitch Marlon Byrd grounded a single to left scoring Murphy, and tied the game at 1-1.

Following a Josh Satin walk, Juan Lagares hit a bloop single over the heads of Darin Ruf and Chase Utley that scored Wright, and gave the Mets, a 2-1 lead. The Mets extended it to 3-1, as catcher Anthony Recker hit a grounder to third, but Michael Young double clutched, and that allowed Recker to reach first on a fielders’ choice.

In the top of the 5^th inning, the Phillies got to Wheeler, who seemed to really tire due to the heat and his pitch count. Hamels, led off with a line single to center. Then, Rollins hit a line single to right. After Michael Young walked to load the bases, Utley hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Hamels, and cut the deficit to 3-2.

After Ruf walked to re-load the bases, Wheeler was pulled for Gonzalez Germen. Wheeler, who will be a promising starter for the Mets in the future, went 4 2/3 innings and threw 106 pitches (58 strikes-48 balls), and struck out five, but the pitch count in the 5^th and the heat took its toll. However, the Mets did get out of the inning, as Delmon Young struck out, and through 5 innings the Phillies had left 7 on base.

In the bottom half, Eric Young led off with a single, then he stole 2^nd base. After a fly out moved Young to 3^rd base, Wright hit a single back up the middle scoring Young, and making the score, 4-2.

In the bottom of the 7^th, the Mets led off with back-to-back walks by Omar Quintanilla and pinch-hitter Ike Davis off of reliever JC Ramirez. Then, after Ramirez was pulled for Jake Diekman, he got Young out on strikes, but Murphy hit a soft line-drive single to right scoring Quintanilla, and making it 5-2.

In the 9^th inning, the Phillies mounted a comeback as Young got on first, courtesy of an error by Josh Satin. Then, Chase Utley hit a 2 strike bomb into the upper deck in right for his 13^th home run of the year, to make the score 5-4. Domonic Brown then doubled to left center, and putting the tying run on second, but Ruf then lined out to second to end the ball game.

The Phillies left ten men on base today, and were 1-10 with runners in scoring position. Germen got the win, while Hamels lost for the 12^th time this season.

Tomorrow, the Phillies will close out this series, and an outstanding pitching matchup could be on tap with two all-stars, as Cliff Lee will take on Matt Harvey. First pitch scheduled for 1:10 pm.