Chooch Gets Lee Off the Hook: Phillies Pour it on Late in 10-6 Win
By Editorial Staff
I hate Mr. Met. I believe this may extend beyond the “I sure do hate David Wright” hate and has moved into the type of hate reserved for people who I genuinely don’t like. It is difficult for me to accurately put my finger on the exact reasons for the bile that rises into my throat every time I look at that stupid baseball headed jerkwad, but his mere presence on television radiates ill will. The players are a rotating carousel of mediocrity, but Mr. Met is essentially eternal and really fucking stupid.
Dillon Gee and Cliff Lee faced off tonight in a sort of sesame street styled “ee” word pitching contest. Old men who listen to baseball on the radio at their kitchen tables while smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes tell me that the best time to get to an ace pitcher is early. Apparently these same carcinogen riddled experts laid a plan of attack for the Mets as David Wright got to Cliff Lee early with an RBI double following a walk to Daniel Murphy.
So, Ty Wigginton bats clean up for this team right now. The most terrifying part about this circumstance is that it is working. Wigginton hit a solo home run tie the game at one. For the next few innings, Lee and Gee held their respective opponents scoreless. In the top of the sixth inning, Lucas Duda connected on unlikely monster home run off of Cliff, giving rise to a sense of dread as the Mets threatened to beat Lee with an all but insurmountable two run lead.
In the top of the seventh, Dillon Gee got the first two outs in the inning before allowing a long double to Brian Schnieder. This spelled the end for Gee and brought pinch hitter Carlos Ruiz to the plate. Bobby Parnell served up a hanging breaking ball to Chooch who smashed the ball into the left field bleachers and got Lee off the hook. The Met bullpen proceeded to allow the Phillies to take the lead on a Shane Victorino sacrifice fly and allowed another six insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Raul Valdez gave up three runs in the ninth, but the Phillies managed to hold on to a 10-6 lead.
Cliff Lee is still winless, but at least Mr. Met was left crying in a pool of his own urine….allegedly.
The moment that looked like it turned the tide in the Phillies favor came with the score tied in the top of the eighth inning. All season long it seems like the Phillies can not get a man in from third with less that two outs. Shane Victorino hit a line drive to center field and Juan Pierre scored from third. The collective sound of all us exhaling was probably audible in New York city.
The most attractive play of the game came from one Cliff Lee. Dillon Gee was attempting to sacrifice catcher Rob Johnson to second. He popped the ball up near foul territoy on the first base side. Cliff ran over, let the ball fall in fair territory, picked it up before it rolled foul, tagged Gee and threw out Johnson at second. I thought Wheels may have had an orgasm.
The hero of the game/season was Carlos Ruiz. He continues to hit the crap out of the ball and is making a VERY strong case for his first all star team.
The villain was Lucas Duda. His two run home run off of Cliff Lee put the Mets up 3-1 and he added another long home run off of Raul Valdez in the bottom on the ninth. Plus he has a stupid name.
With the win today, the Phillies have moved within three games of division leading Washington. Tomorrow is an off day before a big home stand beginning with the Miami Marlins.