If the Phils were going to throw a game away against the hated Mets, about the last place you would look would be smooth-fielding third baseman Pedro Feliz.
Instead you might just as well zero in on one of the Phils starting pitchers, who have struggled mightily in the early going this year.
How then do you explain what unfolded last night in the Mets’ swanky new CitiBank ballpark?
Chan Ho Park, who won a spot in the starting rotation in spring training and seemingly hasn’t done anything right since, was pitching for his life last night. Another shaky outing likely would have seen him banished to the bullpen in favor of J.A. Happ, who also pitched well in Clearwater.
So all Park did last night was unfurl a gem. Entering the game with a lusty 8.57 ERA, Park tossed six shutout innings, surrendering just one hit.
Didn’t much matter. Mets ace Johan Santana was better. He shut the Phils out for 7 innings, striking out 10 along the way.
The key play was a throwing error by – of all people – Feliz in the seventh. Feliz bare-handed a chopper but then threw way wide of Ryan Howard, allowing the Mets to score the only run of the game.
Park clearly earned another start. And the Phils will get another shot at the Mets tonight.
It’s not likely Feliz will throw away another one. What is likely, however, is that Santana will loom large over this series all summer long.
Attention Cole Hamels. That’s what this team needs you to do. All season long, not just in October.
Instead you might just as well zero in on one of the Phils starting pitchers, who have struggled mightily in the early going this year.
How then do you explain what unfolded last night in the Mets’ swanky new CitiBank ballpark?
Chan Ho Park, who won a spot in the starting rotation in spring training and seemingly hasn’t done anything right since, was pitching for his life last night. Another shaky outing likely would have seen him banished to the bullpen in favor of J.A. Happ, who also pitched well in Clearwater.
So all Park did last night was unfurl a gem. Entering the game with a lusty 8.57 ERA, Park tossed six shutout innings, surrendering just one hit.
Didn’t much matter. Mets ace Johan Santana was better. He shut the Phils out for 7 innings, striking out 10 along the way.
The key play was a throwing error by – of all people – Feliz in the seventh. Feliz bare-handed a chopper but then threw way wide of Ryan Howard, allowing the Mets to score the only run of the game.
Park clearly earned another start. And the Phils will get another shot at the Mets tonight.
It’s not likely Feliz will throw away another one. What is likely, however, is that Santana will loom large over this series all summer long.
Attention Cole Hamels. That’s what this team needs you to do. All season long, not just in October.
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