BOX SCORE
Just about everything went right for the Phillies on Monday night. The offense exploded for 10 runs. Everybodys favorite pitcher delivered another gem. And, ultimately, the Phils thrilled another huge crowd with their 82nd victory of the season.
But the best thing to happen in the Phils 10-0 shellacking of the New York Mets might have been the game that Placido Polanco played.
Just off the disabled list with a painful tear in his groin area (sports hernia) that will require his having off-season surgery for the second straight winterhe had elbow surgery last yearPolanco had a pair of hits and made a nifty play at third base. He was also able to push himself on a sprint to first base on a ground out in the seventh inning.
All this was good news for a team that continues to be hit hard by the injury bug and would clearly benefit from having a healthy Polanco for the stretch drive and beyond.
It felt great, Polanco said. It felt really good. I was able to push it and didnt feel anything.
Polanco came off the DL just as shortstop Jimmy Rollins was going on. He also has a groin injury, though not as severe as Polanco. Earlier in the day, leftfielder Raul Ibanez was scratched from the lineup. He is also experiencing soreness in a groin muscle. Ibanez had surgery for a sports hernia after the 2009 season so his condition bears watching.
MLB
Two weeks ago, Polanco was in such bad pain that he had trouble easing his body into a chair in San Francisco. A couple of injectionshe called it a cocktail of medicationhelped ease the pain and got him back on the field.
It numbed me, he said.
Polanco said he believes he can get through the rest of the season.
If it gets bad again, Ill get another shot, he said.
Polanco played next to Wilson Valdez, who started at shortstop in place of the injured Rollins on Monday night. The Phils are expected to be without Rollins until mid-September. Rollins is the 14th player to spend time on the DL this season.
The goal is to have everyone healthy for October. While Polancos play was a bright spot on Monday night, Jose Contreras test drive in the bullpen hours earlier provided a bit of gloom. The Phillies had hoped the right-handed reliever would be able to contribute down the stretch, but he had to abort a bullpen workout Monday afternoon and his season may be over.
Through all the health news, good and bad, Cliff Lee kept on putting together an August to remember. He held the Mets to three hits over seven shutout innings and racked up seven strikeouts, raising his season total to 191, second-most in the NL. Lee even stroked a single, his 13th hit of the season, on his way to receiving several huge ovations from the 188th consecutive sellout crowd at the Bank.
Lee hasnt given up a run in three of his four starts this month, going nine, eight and seven innings in those games. In June, he pitched three shutouts en route to allowing just one runs in 42 innings. That was followed by a lackluster July in which he had a 4.91 ERA.
Why so streaky?
I dont know, Lee said. I try to do the same thing every game, regardless. In this game, guys get into streaks. Guys that are successful ride the good streaks and try to limit the bad ones.
Manager Charlie Manuel said that command of the strike zone makes all the difference for Lee. When the leftys pitches catch too much of the plate, he gets hurt. When he hits spots, hes tough to beat.
Command is definitely the thing, Manuel said. He knows what he wants to throw, and when he commands it he controls the game and puts pressure on hitters. He moves the game along and keeps the game going.
Lee got plenty of offensive support as John Mayberry Jr. and Hunter Pence both belted two-run home runs. Carlos Ruiz added a two-run single and Shane Victorino a two-run triple.
Mayberry, a late addition to the lineup for the banged-up Ibanez, is playing himself into regular work in left field. He has eight hits in 18 at-bats over his last five games and 20 of his last 31 hits have been for extra bases.
Mayberry is a different hitter since coming back from the minors in early July. He has opened his stance and is using a crouch. He is confident, and he is exploding on pitches.
Ive made some changes in my stance and approach, he said. Additionally, it doesnt hurt getting regular at-bats.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.