Last night was one of those nights when reality trumps all. I was listening to the Phillies' game on the radio and had switched stations to check the weather. That's when I heard that Osama bin Laden had reportedly been killed in Pakistan and that the president was shortly to address the nation. News then took precedence over baseball, though I heard the game lurch first into a tie, thanks to a Howard single that plated Mayberry, then into extra innings. I also heard the crowd chanting as the world news spread, from phone to phone, around the ballpark. By the time the game ended, around 1 a.m., I was listening to BBC World coverage.
Cliff Lee started the game vs. Chris Young, who once again befuddled Phillie bats with his soft-tossing ways. Lee struggled mightily in the 1st inning, needing 34 pitched to escape, but then held on for another six frames. He limited the Mets to one run. In the end, the Mets won it 2-1 in the 14th. Kyle Kendrick got the loss and former-Phillie farmhand Taylor Bucholz the win.
On Friday Vance Worley started in place of Roy Oswalt and went a solid six innings of two-hit, no-run ball. He struck out five but walked four and used too many pitches (total: 102). Still, he left the game with a shut-out going. The Mets scored all of their runs in the 10-3 loss in the 9th, after getting-to-be hapless David Herndon. Ryan Howard drove in six, with a two-run second-deck blast, then a grand slam. The GS was the 10th of his career.
Saturday was the Roy Halladay show. I was supposed to be there but was unable to make it, so I missed seeing Halladay open the game with 18 straight strikes. He finished the game, a 2-1 Phillie win, with 107 pitches. Of those, 80 were for strikes. What can I say about Roy Halladay?
In other news, Roy Oswalt is supposed to rejoin the team on Thursday and may take a turn in the rotation this weekend. Carlos Ruiz may be back catching on Tuesday. Domonic Brown has been optioned to Lehigh Valley, another step in his return. Joe Blanton and Brad Lidge are soon to start throwing again. J.C. Romero will be on a rehab assignment in Lakewood tomorrow. And Chase Utley played a simulated game yesterday. If all goes well, Clearwater may be his next stop.
