Detail from the old-school "Tribute" Phanatic by artist Tom McLaughlin. The statue is an homage to the Negro Baseball Leagues. Joe Blanton went seven strong innings, giving up just a two-run homer to Angel Pagan and making a terrific belly-flopping defensive play, in a 3-2 win over the Mets. Batting from the right, Shane Victorino led off with a home run against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, then in the 3rd doubled in the second run of the game. Carlos Ruiz brought in the running win in the 4th. Blanton, Madson, and Lidge held the Mets to two despite some 9th-inning shenanigans which looked like an attempt at 'icing' Lidge. It did not work. The Mets meanwhile were steamed over an Utley take-out slide at 2nd. The slide, which looked perfectly fine, only underlined the difference between the two teams: One is playing to win, the other to empty out their lockers.
In Washington, meanwhile, the Nationals battered Tim Hudson and the Braves to the tune of 8-3. The magic number is now 2.
Two things of note: Great to have Joe Blanton back as his old reliable self and good to see Shane Victorino finally taking to the lead-off spot.
