Pedro Martinez dazzled yesterday for seven innings, allowing just two hits. Vicente Padilla of the Dodgers was just a tick behind, giving up just a solo home run to Ryan Howard in the 4th. Pedro left after seven, with the score 1-0. For all who want to second guess his leaving, Martinez seemed to know he was done at the end of the inning and did not appear to make any case to keep himself in the game.
Chan Ho Park came in for the 8th. As soon as the first batter sliced a catchable ball past Pedro Feliz at third, I thought uh-oh and left the house to run errands and listen to the rest of the game in the car. Unbelievably, the inning was still going on when I reached my third stop, just in time to see J.A. Happ walk Ethier and allow the winning run to score. It was a woeful eighth, featuring a double play not turned, a throwing error by Chase Utley (his second in two days, which is unimaginable), and five relief pitchers needed to get three outs.
The Phillies are an excellent defensive team but yesterday their defense let them down. It ruined a Martinez masterpiece and cost them a win. The series is now tied 1-1.
