GaryMrMets
05-27-2004, 01:58 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8771037.htm
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
Phils beat Mets with six-run 7th
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW YORK - Forget the record for a moment. The Phillies missed Jim Thome in their lineup.
Sure, they went 4-1 without the big man while he rested his ailing right index finger and left thumb last week. Sure, they continued to score runs. Sure, they stayed atop the National League East.
But they're certainly happy to have him back.
Thome came through with a two-run double in the seventh inning last night to break a tie as the Phillies won, 7-4, over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium to split the two-game series.
"Nice to get a big hit," Thome said. "This was a big win for sure."
His teammates and manager agreed, and they were glad Thome played a part in it.
"We need that guy around," Phillies righthander Brett Myers said of Thome. "We did all right without him, but I don't want to play too many games without him."
"He's swinging good," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He's not in as much as pain as he was a week ago, but he's much better. He's our big guy. He's a guy in the lineup that we lean on, and he came up big."
The Phillies had a chance to be shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 11-12, 1999, in Arizona, before they scored a season-high six runs in the seventh inning.
"They gave us some opportunities and we capitalized," Myers said. "That's what good teams do."
Mets righthander Steve Trachsel baffled the Phillies in a 5-0 victory Tuesday. Then Mets righthander Matt Ginter, in his first career appearance against the Phillies, threw a four-hit shutout through six innings.
The Mets had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third when Mets manager Art Howe had former Phillies outfielder Eric Valent pinch-hit for Ginter with one out. Valent struck out, although the Mets scored two runs to take a 3-0 lead. After Myers intentionally walked Kaz Matsui to load the bases, Myers walked Danny Garcia to score a run. Roberto Hernandez entered the game, and promptly walked Cliff Floyd to score another run.
But at least Ginter was out of the game.
The Phillies had their opening.
Former Phillies closer Ricky Bottalico went to work for the Mets in the seventh, but he didn't fare well. David Bell reached on an error and Mike Lieberthal doubled to score Bell to make it 3-1. Lieberthal moved to third when Jimmy Rollins flied out and Bottalico walked pinch-hitter Jason Michaels.
Howe had seen enough of Bottalico.
Enter John Franco.
Doug Glanville's single scored Lieberthal to make it 3-2, and Mike Piazza's throwing error to second on a fielder's choice allowed Michaels to score and tie the game.
Thome had his two-run double and Bell added a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.
But the Phillies found themselves in a jam in the eighth.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Cliff Floyd hit a grounder to second baseman Chase Utley. But the ball got away to load the bases.
Rheal Cormier then walked Piazza to make it 6-4. But Cormier got pinch-hitter Todd Zeile to strike out to end the inning.
Bowa wasn't bothered when Piazza's walk made it a two-run game. Consider the alternative.
"Not at all," Bowa said. "I went out there and told [Cormier], 'I really don't give a [hoot] if you walk him.' He's swinging the bat."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/8768/76883180248.jpg
New York Mets second baseman Danny Garcia throws wildly to first after forcing out Phillies' Mike Lieberthal.
Posted on Thu, May. 27, 2004
Phils beat Mets with six-run 7th
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW YORK - Forget the record for a moment. The Phillies missed Jim Thome in their lineup.
Sure, they went 4-1 without the big man while he rested his ailing right index finger and left thumb last week. Sure, they continued to score runs. Sure, they stayed atop the National League East.
But they're certainly happy to have him back.
Thome came through with a two-run double in the seventh inning last night to break a tie as the Phillies won, 7-4, over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium to split the two-game series.
"Nice to get a big hit," Thome said. "This was a big win for sure."
His teammates and manager agreed, and they were glad Thome played a part in it.
"We need that guy around," Phillies righthander Brett Myers said of Thome. "We did all right without him, but I don't want to play too many games without him."
"He's swinging good," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He's not in as much as pain as he was a week ago, but he's much better. He's our big guy. He's a guy in the lineup that we lean on, and he came up big."
The Phillies had a chance to be shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 11-12, 1999, in Arizona, before they scored a season-high six runs in the seventh inning.
"They gave us some opportunities and we capitalized," Myers said. "That's what good teams do."
Mets righthander Steve Trachsel baffled the Phillies in a 5-0 victory Tuesday. Then Mets righthander Matt Ginter, in his first career appearance against the Phillies, threw a four-hit shutout through six innings.
The Mets had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third when Mets manager Art Howe had former Phillies outfielder Eric Valent pinch-hit for Ginter with one out. Valent struck out, although the Mets scored two runs to take a 3-0 lead. After Myers intentionally walked Kaz Matsui to load the bases, Myers walked Danny Garcia to score a run. Roberto Hernandez entered the game, and promptly walked Cliff Floyd to score another run.
But at least Ginter was out of the game.
The Phillies had their opening.
Former Phillies closer Ricky Bottalico went to work for the Mets in the seventh, but he didn't fare well. David Bell reached on an error and Mike Lieberthal doubled to score Bell to make it 3-1. Lieberthal moved to third when Jimmy Rollins flied out and Bottalico walked pinch-hitter Jason Michaels.
Howe had seen enough of Bottalico.
Enter John Franco.
Doug Glanville's single scored Lieberthal to make it 3-2, and Mike Piazza's throwing error to second on a fielder's choice allowed Michaels to score and tie the game.
Thome had his two-run double and Bell added a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.
But the Phillies found themselves in a jam in the eighth.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Cliff Floyd hit a grounder to second baseman Chase Utley. But the ball got away to load the bases.
Rheal Cormier then walked Piazza to make it 6-4. But Cormier got pinch-hitter Todd Zeile to strike out to end the inning.
Bowa wasn't bothered when Piazza's walk made it a two-run game. Consider the alternative.
"Not at all," Bowa said. "I went out there and told [Cormier], 'I really don't give a [hoot] if you walk him.' He's swinging the bat."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/8768/76883180248.jpg
New York Mets second baseman Danny Garcia throws wildly to first after forcing out Phillies' Mike Lieberthal.