Utley, Phillies come from behind to top Mets

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Saturday, May 28, 2011
Posted: 10:02 p.m.Updated: 11:30 p.m.

By John R. Finger
CSNPhilly.com

BOX SCORE

NEW YORKDont think for a second that these Phillies are easy to figure out. Just when it looks like the percentages are tilted the other way and its going to be one of those nights, the Phillies leave you guessing some more.

Take Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the eighth inning of Saturday nights 5-2 victory over the Mets at Citi Field, for instance. One hitter had just a handful of big league games under his belt this season and was still looking for his timing at the plate, while the other went into the key plate appearance riding an 0-for-9 streak barely a week removed from an 0-for-26 slump.

In a matter of a handful of pitches Utley had laced a breaking pitch to left for a game-tying, two-out single before Howard followed with a two-run, go-ahead double to plate the winning runs.

Heres where it gets weird

Clinging to a 2-1 lead with two outs in the eighth, Mets manager Terry Collins removed starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey after he gave up a single to Jimmy Rollins for the Phils first hit in four innings. He brought in a lefty to face Utley, a righty to face Placido Polanco and another lefty to face Howard. It seemed like a good idea at the time. After all, Utley was 0 for 5 against lefties headed into the at-bat and Howard was 13 for 70 for an ugly .186 batting average.

But when it all played out, the Mets had been playedout.

We just gave ourselves an opportunity. It was like we were waiting for our moment, Howard said, reveling in the success after ripping the 2-0 pitch from Tim Byrdak for a double.

Still, Howard took an 0 for 9 into the eighth inning in which he had whiffed six times. Never mind that he had gone 9 for 25 with a pair of homers and three doubles against the Rangers and Reds at the Bank last week because those nine hits were wedged between the 0 for 9 and an 0 for 26 stretch to start the last homestand.

So to bring in a lefty that Howard had just two hits off of in his previous 15 plate appearances, Collins had to feel pretty good about the odds.

But as the Phillies (33-19) have shown, conventional wisdom doesnt really apply. Baseball, at least the way the Phillies play it, is very streaky. Just look at Howards numbers over the past few weeks.

Hes been going hot and cold. Its just a matter of time until he starts hitting, manager Charlie Manuel said. Hell get in a streak where hes hitting it good.

Regardless, one has to wonder if the resurgent offense from the Phillies is a byproduct of having Utley back in the lineup. Since his return, the Phillies are 5-1 and have averaged a hefty 6.5 runs per game. In Saturdays victory, Utley played an integral role, too. He doubled and scored the first run for the team in the fourth and singled home the tying run, stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw.

For a guy with no spring training and a bum knee, Utley is beginning to find his step. His first multi-hit game definitely helps with the confidence.

Youre looking at a guy who didnt have an at-bat in spring training, played a handful of rehab games and thats pretty much all he has, Howard said about Utley. Hes going to be fine.

Then again, as Manuel says, when the hits start to fall everyone looks good.

When Pelfrey was holding us without too many hits it didnt look like we had too much energy, Manuel said. The bat creates a lot of energy.

So does Utley.

The way he plays with his attitude, yeah, he brings a lot to the team, the skipper said.

Meanwhile, it was the second straight game that the Phillies rallied in the eighth inning to win a game. The last time the Phillies won consecutive games despite trailing in the eighth inning or later in both games was Aug. 5-6 last year. Its also the fifth time this season they have rallied in the eighth (or later to win a game).

Call it the baseball version of the rope-a-dope.

Up next
Vance Worley (2-0, 2.14) makes his second straight start since returning from Triple A in Sundays series finale. The Mets counter with lefty Jonathon Niese (3-5, 4.33). Worley has faced the Mets twice in his career, including one start this season on April 29. In that outing he went six innings and gave up just two hits without a run in the Phillies 10-3 victory.

Niese has five career starts against the Phillies, posting a 1-3 record with a 3.73 ERA. He last faced the Phillies on April 30 where he took the loss in a 2-1 defeat.

E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com

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