Three games, three wins, zero runs allowed...an amazing feat for the Amazins.
Mike Pelfrey took his turn on the hill to try and close out the sweep, and he did so in grand fashion, holding the Phillies to zero runs on three hits over seven shutout innings. The most impressive part was that Pelf didn't have his best stuff, but he worked out of trouble with double play after double play and enough movement on his pitches to fool the Phillies all night. When they did hit the ball, the Mets defense was more than up to the challenge.
How good was this three game, three shutout sweep? The last time the Mets accomplished it was in September 1969, also against the Phillies, and yes, that team did something pretty spectacular that season.
Pelfrey, in his typical humble manner, said, "Luckily, we were able to keep it going." He added, "I think your job is to put up zeros, I thought I was OK."
Big Pelf is now 7-1 on the season and has become an ace before our very eyes. He has a sparkling 2.54 ERA on the year and has won his last three starts.
The Phils were held to just four hits, all singles, and could not get anything going against the big righty, though they did manage to draw five walks, helped by an ump with an oddly shaped strike zone that floated from batter to batter. Pedro Feliciano and Frankie Rodriguez ensured the shutout with a scoreless inning each, and Frankie notched his 9th save of the season.
It's no coincidence that the Mets had their best series of the year at a time when Jose Reyes is at his hottest. Reyes has 6 multi-hit games in his last seven, and, you guessed it, the Mets have won each of those 6.
Angel Pagan had two hits and made a beautiful diving catch in CF. Pagan, who at one time was on the journeyman path, has made himself into a very good player. The baserunning mistakes are gone, he is more patient at the plate, and he is hitting the ball to all fields. While he isn't a star, Pagan has served notice that he is a player that can change a game with his glove, his bat, or his feet.
All in all just a terrific showing by the Mets, who now stand only 2 games out of first place.
It was a 3 round knockout punch to the Phils. And while these games didn't move the Phils out of first place, they certainly served notice that the 2010 NL East is going to be one hell of a wild ride.
Enjoy your coffee!
| Scoreboard | ||||||||||||
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Philadelphia (26-20) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| N.Y. Mets (25-23) « | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | x | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| Players of the Game |
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