GaryMrMets
07-06-2004, 12:40 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9086979.htm
Posted on Tue, Jul. 06, 2004
Beating the Best
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
It's July, the Phillies are in first place and the New York Mets are in second.
If that seems unusual, well, it is.
Just four times since the Mets joined baseball in 1962 have both teams had a better-than-.500 record in the same season: 1975, 1976, 1986 and 2001.
Just once have they finished 1-2 in their division: 1986, when the Phillies finished a mere 211/2 games behind the World Series champions.
But that's where they were last night - first and second - at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies scored six runs in the first two innings against Tom Glavine on their way to a 6-5 victory to build a three-game lead over the Mets and the Florida Marlins in the National League East.
The Mets had pushed back Glavine's start so he could face the Phillies.
The Phillies countered with Paul Abbott.
But it worked.
It's the Phillies' largest division lead since June 21, 2001, when they were up 31/2 games.
It's also their first three-game winning streak since May, when they won four straight from May 18 to 21.
"I don't think I'm ever pleased," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "But when I look at what's happened, guys we've had out and guys who started off slowly, I like where we are. Again, I'm not happy. But I'll probably never be happy. That's just the way I approach it."
Glavine (7-6) led baseball with a 2.16 ERA before last night and had a 3-0 lead before he took the mound in the bottom of the first.
Six earned runs in two innings against Glavine?
Don't be surprised. The Phillies lead the National League with 26 comeback victories this season.
They have five on this homestand.
"We don't panic," Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell said. "Our pitchers are allowing us to get back into the game. There are two sides to every coin. Yeah, we were able to come from behind. But we wouldn't have been able to come from behind without our guys on the mound keeping us in the game.
"And this is a very good offensive team. Throughout the game, we will put ourselves in situations to score a lot of runs. Whether we're producing in those situations is one thing. But tonight we did a good job and did just enough."
Abbott allowed three in the first when Cliff Floyd hit a two-out, two-run homer to right field and Richard Hidalgo followed with a solo homer to left. But Abbott settled down and retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced as the Phillies took a 6-3 lead.
In the first, Burrell's two-out single to center scored Bobby Abreu, and David Bell's double to left scored Jim Thome. In the second, the Phillies received clutch two-out hits from Abreu, Thome and Burrell.
"Glavine is so good because his location is so good and he's able to change speeds," Burrell said. "We tried to make him elevate the ball and be aggressive when the ball is up in the zone."
Abbott walked Glavine with one out in the fifth, which started a two-run rally. Kaz Matsui singled to left with two outs and Mike Piazza walked to load the bases. Floyd's two-run single to left made it 6-5.
Bowa called in righthander Ryan Madson (6-2) from the bullpen, and he worked out of the jam.
The Phillies' bullpen - Madson, Rheal Cormier, Tim Worrell and Wagner - pitched 41/3 innings of scoreless relief.
They made the Phillies' comeback hold up.
"For our team to spot them three and come back against Glavine was unbelievable," Bowa said.
On June 28, the Phillies opened this 14-game homestand three games over .500 and in second place after a 2-4 road trip through Montreal and Boston. Catcher Todd Pratt said after a 12-3 loss to the Red Sox on June 27 at Fenway Park that the Phillies wanted to be 10 games over .500 before the all-star break.
They needed to finish the homestand 11-3 to make that happen.
They're 6-2 so far, with Mets lefthander Al Leiter on the mound tonight against Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf.
"It's better than being in last," said Wagner, who picked up his 13th save. "I'll take [first place] anytime, but there's definitely room for improvement. We haven't played our best. We haven't played our worst. Hopefully, we're starting to play better."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/9088/82596205208.jpg
Pat Burrell's bat breaks as he flies out to center in the seventh. The Phils got plenty of good wood last night, however, roughing up Tom Giavine.
Posted on Tue, Jul. 06, 2004
Beating the Best
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
It's July, the Phillies are in first place and the New York Mets are in second.
If that seems unusual, well, it is.
Just four times since the Mets joined baseball in 1962 have both teams had a better-than-.500 record in the same season: 1975, 1976, 1986 and 2001.
Just once have they finished 1-2 in their division: 1986, when the Phillies finished a mere 211/2 games behind the World Series champions.
But that's where they were last night - first and second - at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies scored six runs in the first two innings against Tom Glavine on their way to a 6-5 victory to build a three-game lead over the Mets and the Florida Marlins in the National League East.
The Mets had pushed back Glavine's start so he could face the Phillies.
The Phillies countered with Paul Abbott.
But it worked.
It's the Phillies' largest division lead since June 21, 2001, when they were up 31/2 games.
It's also their first three-game winning streak since May, when they won four straight from May 18 to 21.
"I don't think I'm ever pleased," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "But when I look at what's happened, guys we've had out and guys who started off slowly, I like where we are. Again, I'm not happy. But I'll probably never be happy. That's just the way I approach it."
Glavine (7-6) led baseball with a 2.16 ERA before last night and had a 3-0 lead before he took the mound in the bottom of the first.
Six earned runs in two innings against Glavine?
Don't be surprised. The Phillies lead the National League with 26 comeback victories this season.
They have five on this homestand.
"We don't panic," Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell said. "Our pitchers are allowing us to get back into the game. There are two sides to every coin. Yeah, we were able to come from behind. But we wouldn't have been able to come from behind without our guys on the mound keeping us in the game.
"And this is a very good offensive team. Throughout the game, we will put ourselves in situations to score a lot of runs. Whether we're producing in those situations is one thing. But tonight we did a good job and did just enough."
Abbott allowed three in the first when Cliff Floyd hit a two-out, two-run homer to right field and Richard Hidalgo followed with a solo homer to left. But Abbott settled down and retired 11 of the next 12 batters he faced as the Phillies took a 6-3 lead.
In the first, Burrell's two-out single to center scored Bobby Abreu, and David Bell's double to left scored Jim Thome. In the second, the Phillies received clutch two-out hits from Abreu, Thome and Burrell.
"Glavine is so good because his location is so good and he's able to change speeds," Burrell said. "We tried to make him elevate the ball and be aggressive when the ball is up in the zone."
Abbott walked Glavine with one out in the fifth, which started a two-run rally. Kaz Matsui singled to left with two outs and Mike Piazza walked to load the bases. Floyd's two-run single to left made it 6-5.
Bowa called in righthander Ryan Madson (6-2) from the bullpen, and he worked out of the jam.
The Phillies' bullpen - Madson, Rheal Cormier, Tim Worrell and Wagner - pitched 41/3 innings of scoreless relief.
They made the Phillies' comeback hold up.
"For our team to spot them three and come back against Glavine was unbelievable," Bowa said.
On June 28, the Phillies opened this 14-game homestand three games over .500 and in second place after a 2-4 road trip through Montreal and Boston. Catcher Todd Pratt said after a 12-3 loss to the Red Sox on June 27 at Fenway Park that the Phillies wanted to be 10 games over .500 before the all-star break.
They needed to finish the homestand 11-3 to make that happen.
They're 6-2 so far, with Mets lefthander Al Leiter on the mound tonight against Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf.
"It's better than being in last," said Wagner, who picked up his 13th save. "I'll take [first place] anytime, but there's definitely room for improvement. We haven't played our best. We haven't played our worst. Hopefully, we're starting to play better."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/9088/82596205208.jpg
Pat Burrell's bat breaks as he flies out to center in the seventh. The Phils got plenty of good wood last night, however, roughing up Tom Giavine.