What happened?
Kyle Kendrick earned the win in his return to the rotation as the Phillies took game one of the double header against the Mets.
Who did what?
Kyle Kendrick (W, 1-1) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven and a third. He walked one and struck out three.
Shane Victorino went 2 for 4 with a homer (10) and two RBIs.
Ryan Howard went 1 for 3 with a double (33) and an RBI.
Ben Francisco went 2 for 4 with a homer (4) and an RBI.
Andy Tracy went 1 for 1 with an RBI.
Brad Lidge (S, 29) allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out two to earn the save.
John Maine (L, 5-5) allowed one run on two hits in three innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Anderson Hernandez went 1 for 4 with a homer (2) and two RBIs.
Jeff Francoeur went 3 for 4 with a run.
Josh Thole went 4 for 4 with an RBI.
What does this mean?
Following yesterday’s tough loss, the Phillies bounced back behind a great start from the resurgent Kyle Kendrick to narrowly defeat the Mets in game three of the series.
Kendrick, making his first start since 2008, looked every bit of the pitcher that the Phillies wanted him to be after they sent him to the minor leagues. He started off with a bang by striking out the side in the first, and he didn’t allow a runner to reach third base until the seventh inning. Sporting an improved changeup, he kept the ball on the ground and didn’t allow a run until Anderson Hernandez’s two-run blast in the top of the eighth.
His performance was the story of the day until the ninth inning, when Charlie Manuel opted for Brad Lidge to secure the three run lead in the ninth. While things didn’t go as bad as they did in yesterday’s contest, Lidge allowed two runs on three hits to bring the Mets to within one. With a runner on first and two down, he buried a slider in the dirt to strike out Angel Pagan to end the game.
It was by no means a clean inning for Lidge, but it got the job done. For right now, the Phillies have a bonafide closer controversy on their hands. With two closers who can’t close and a starter-turned-closer-turned-starter-turned relief pitcher who is still working his way back from an injury, the Phillies have possibly the biggest Achilles heel of any playoff contending team.
However, the ninth inning shouldn’t take away from what was a very solid performance by the Phillies. The offense wasn’t overpowering, but they drove in all five runs with two-out hits, including blasts from Ben Francisco and Shane Victorino.
The big winner today was Kyle Kendrick, who looked very sharp in his return to The Show. It’s unlikely that Kendrick will get too many more chances in 2009, but his future got a little bit brighter with a very big performance today.
What’s next for our heroes?
In game two of the double header, Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.63) takes on Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78).
33 Responses to “September 13 Game 1 Recap: Phillies 5, Mets 4”
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General
I hate you, Brad Lidge.
My heart is in my throat even when he’s just warming up in the bullpen.
Sigh. Lidge.
Let’s take solace in the fact that since he pitched in the early game, we won’t have to worry about seeing him tonight.
The point is to have one more run than the other team, and no matter what happened in the 9th, they did. They won the game, less than 24 hrs after the toughest loss of the year. That’s all that matters.
Are Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson playing a game called “Who can blow the most saves?”
I wasn’t nearly as disturbed by this 9th as I was by previous 9ths. I’m not entirely sure why. Maybe it’s because most of the hits were ground ball bleeders?
I still prefer Lidge over Madson as closer.
It bothers me that people are always so hard on Brad Lidge and don’t do the same with Ryan Madson, especially since he blew and lost the game last night.
Well my heart is beating a million beats per second, my palms get sweaty, shortness of breath, I pee myself, and I might of poo’d myself whenever Brad Lidge shows up to the stadium.
Oh that bitch #46 pisses the hell out of me also pitching like a vag in the 9th. I blame it on switching his number from 63 to 46.
The performance of Kyle Kendrick pleases me.
I can only watch the mlbtv thing for the game and i still get uneasy for the 9th inning. And don’t worry maria, I don’t discriminate any of my hatred for horrible closing.
Maybe Lidge kept guys from stealing so much on him last year, because the first 2 guys to get on with singles, turned them into doubles. He barely even looked over at the runners. It’s ridiculous. Francour wouldn’t have scored as soon as he did if they kept an eye on him, same with the next batter that reached.
Oh, and did anyone listen to Sunday with Sinatra this morning, with Tim McCarver on? Turns out, he released an album of standards. It’s absolutely horrible.
Also, isn’t it true that if the Phillies beat the Mets tonight, they eliminate the Mets from the playoffs, officially?
anyone who says they HATE Brad Lidge needs serious help. Yeah the guy is having a terrible year and has cost us several games, but its not like hes going out there and blowing saves on purpose. Perfect 48 for 48 last year and he was the second coming of christ and now he’s having a bad year and you HATE him? Get real people! I can understand someone saying that they don’t want him out on the mound, but if you really hate the guy, you have problems. People who say they hate him think that they are the only people that are negatively affected by his blown saves! We’re all Phils fans here and we all go through this together, no matter what, no one fan more than the other. A fan is a fan, through and through. Lidge has been a class act throughout this entire process and even was shown cheering on his teammate Ryan Madson, although he eventually blew the save yesterday. Saying you hate him is just ridiculous.
@ Watrick-
Yup, that is indeed true. Kinda poetic that such a defeat could come at Pedro’s hands.
Go Phils. Crush the Mets. No mercy.
The Mets’ E# on the wild card standings is at 1. . .so it would appear so Watrick.
But the Phils scored three of their five runs off HRs, so really they should have lost…
The Mets’ E# on the division is 2, so also yes.
I don’t get it. I am hoping that Lidge’s battle through that ninth today might have clicked something other than his “oh shit” response, but why not turn the Reckless Redneck loose in the ninth? Could it be that de-stabilizing of a move? What would Cholly have to lose?
@MoyerIsMyHero
So homeruns no longer count?
i did not expect kyle kendrick to do that today
I was also REALLY pleasantly surprised at Kyle Kendrick.
@Tug – Satire. I’ve been getting pissed at broadcasters, etc, for constantly talking about how the Phillies score so many runs of the HR, as if to imply that it somehow makes them a worse team.
@Tug
Completely off-topic, but I gotta say, Krang is the shit.
@MoyerIsMyHero – ah, I’m retarded. my bad. I’m with you, that sentiment annoys me too.
@WB-Tony – fuck yeah.
I’m sorry I’m not sorry for hating on Brad Lidge right now. The Mets are a pathetic team that should pose absolutely no threat when we have a 3-run lead in the 9th at home.
The fact that he made that close is remarkably bad.
I was there today-Kendrick was fantastic, every bit the “lights out” guy that a certain someone used to be.
Interestingly, the crowd was behind Lidge 110% during the 9th. I had visions of Kendrick (he wears the same # as Schilling, after all) with a towel over his head, but the way everyone was cheering Lidge I felt like we were encouraging a child to tie his shoes. I hope that makes sense-I don’t hate Lidge; I feel bad for him. He had injury and a bad farewell from Houston and then came here and was PERFECT. I can’t imagine how he feels after falling from that and really I hope he turns around for the team and for himself.
the offense and bullpen need to show up and not fuck up Pedro’s game.
YES YES YES YES….i just shotgunned a beer in Pedro’s honor. Madson is awful and was missing his spots everywhere but I will fucking take it. Put it in the win column for the Phightin Phils….
Mets ELIMINATED from the playoffs
Ding dong, the Mets are dead.
I fully expect a Chooch ice cream moment after he gunned down Murphy at 3rd. As soon as I saw his reaction, I knew it would be coming. Do not disappoint.
Madson looked fine to me, I don’t know what you’re talking about. He’ll be fine.
KYLE KENDRICK IS A MERMAID…..DO NOT FALL PREY TO HIS SONG…….HE WILL EVENUTALLY KILL AND EAT YOU…..