The Mets-Phillies series turned out to be all about pitching. Friday night it was Cole Hamels, who got a 4-2 win over the Mets in a game saved by Ryan Madson. On Saturday, Jameie Moyer, making a spot start for the injured J.A. Happ, gave up four in the first, then was sterling as his team came back to make it a 9-5 game going into the 8th. Too bad that Brett Myers and Ryan Madson then combined to blow the game. Myers gave up three in the 8th and Madson, with two outs in the 9th, grooved a ball to David Wright, who hit a two-run homer to put the Mets up 10-9, the final score.
A devastating blow, right? But this team is nothing if not resilient. Call-up Kyle Kendrick, making his first start of the season, pitched seven scoreless Sunday afternoon, the first fame of a day-night doubleheaders. He allowed two runs in the 8th, which cut the Phillies' lead to 4-2. In the bottom of the frame, Matt Stairs got a pinch-hit double, then call-up Andy Tracy singled in Eric Bruntlett, pinch-running for Stairs. Brad Lidge came in, to thunderous applause in the 9th, and held on for a dicey 5-4 save.
Sunday night it was all Pedro Martinez, who pitched an eight-inning shutout. The only run scored was in the first, when Chase Utley singled in Jimmy Rollins, who had walked (how unlikely is that!) to lead off the game. Ryan Madson came in for the save in the 9th. Carlos Ruiz made a fab play on a boneheaded attempt by Daniel Murphy to steal third on a ball that got away at the plate. Ruiz nabbed the ball, then nabbed Murphy at third to end the inning.
Pedro threw 130 pitches, the first time he's thrown that many since 2001. He is now 5-0 with the Phillies and they are 7-0 in his starts. He has been nothing short of remarkable. Or should I say that he has been Pedro? Whatever, he has been totally engaging and entertaining. In the eigth the park rocked to chants of Pedro, Pedro, Pedro.
