Game 109: Phillies tack on 6 in 8th to take first against Mets (61-48)

It was a pitcher's duel through the first 7 innings in tonight's game. Joe Blanton pitched very well, and Jonathon Niese had the Phillies looking foolish for most of the night.

However, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Jerry Manuel fed Bobby Parnell to the sharks. This team is a heavy hitting fastball team. Any pitcher that throws hard and straight, the Phillies tend to handle pretty well (Broxton, Jimenez, Parnell, etc.). The Phillies added 6 against a combination of Bobby Parnell, Pedro Feliciano (who pitched to mainly RHB, which is essentially like using Romero vs. RHB), and Manny Acosta.

Charlie Manuel started the top of the 9th with Danys Baez. Baez alternated outs with hits before he had two men on base with 2 outs. Chris Carter, an absolutely awful LHB, was sent up to the plate as a pinch hitter. Charlie Manuel, who apparently didn't learn anything from last night or from the last 3 years, used J.C. Romero up 5 runs with one out to go. Clearly the Mets were going to burn the LHB, and sent RHB Mike Hessman to the plate. Romero promptly gave up a home run closing the gap to 2 runs. Brad Lidge was brought in to record the final out. He struck out lefty, Jesus Feliciano.

I don't like Manuel using Romero vs. RHB. I don't understand/like Manuel using Ibanez, Polanco, Sweeney, Werth tonight. Why not break up the RHBs somewhat? Why not bat Ibanez 3rd? Why bat Sweeney before Werth? Werth should definitely bat before Sweeney tomorrow when Cole Hamels faces off against Johan Santana.