Is it 2007 Again?
The Phillies came back to beat the Mets in 13 innings, 8-7. It kind of felt like 2007, didn't it?
Is it 2007 Again?
Todd Zolecki
Chris Coste gets a hug from Shane Victorino after Coste singled in Victorino for the game-winning run against the Mets in the 13th. (YONG KIM / Philadelphia Daily News)
Wow.
That felt familiar. Last night's 8-7 victory in 13 innings over the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park felt a lot like 2007. The Mets took a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Phillies chipped away at it before a few dramatic moments in the ninth and 13th innings won it and moved the Phillies into first place in the National League East.
"It had that feeling like we were going to win it every single inning," Chris Coste said. "We had a pretty good feeling ... an excitement because we put ourselves in position to win the game on many occassions. It was definitely exciting. It probably felt like the Little League World Series players. You forget that you get paid to play the game. It's almost like we felt like little kids with the excitement in kind of playoff-type atmosphere, which is pretty normal when we play the Mets."
Last year when the Phillies played the Mets at the Bank there were dramatic moments: Chase Utley's return from a broken hand Aug. 27, Ryan Howard's game-winning homer in the 10th inning Aug. 28, Marlon Anderson being ruled out for interference to preserve a one-run win Aug. 29 and that unbelievable 11-10 back-and-forth victory on Aug. 30.
Last night's game had similar moments.
- The Mets taking a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning.
- Jimmy Rollins going 5 for 7 with a double, homer, three RBIs and three stolen bases.
- The bullpen finishing the game throwing nine consecutive scoreless innings.
- Charlie Manuel moving Carlos Ruiz to third base for the top of the ninth inning so Eric Bruntlett could hit in the bottom of the ninth. "I started to put Bruntlett in the game and I told Jimy (Williams) that I want to save Bruntlett to hit," Manuel said. "Ruiz has been catching balls at third base and working out there. And actually he was an infielder before they made him a catcher in the minor leagues. At that time I thought what have we got to lose? We needed a run. I wanted to keep Bruntlett back to hit for the pitcher, who had a good chance of hitting."
- Jayson Werth hitting a two-out single up the middle in the ninth and Bruntlett following with a double to right-center field to score Werth to tie it.
- Shane Victorino, who was 0 for 6, hitting a leadoff triple in the 13th.
- The Mets intentionally walking the bases loaded with no outs.
- Brett Myers taking all the way before striking out for the first out in the 13th. "You can follow orders," Manuel told Myers as the returned to the dugout." Yep, there was no way Myers was swinging at any of those pitches. Myers certainly played up to the moment with an exaggerated leg kick and other movements in the batter's box. The way he strutted to the plate you would have thought he was Babe Ruth. "They were saying, 'Let him fake squeeze,'" Manuel said. "I said, 'No, because Victorino might break for the plate.'"
- Coste's game-winning hit to center field to finally win it.
Game time: five hours, 17 minutes.
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Kyle Kendrick was ready to pitch the 14th inning if the game had continued. He threw 40 warm-up pitches in the bullpen, but said he should be fine tonight when he faces Johan Santana.
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It was Coste's first walk-off hit. Ever.
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Jim Salisbury talks about the electricity in the park when the Mets come to town.
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In the Phillies Notebook: could Jamie Moyer be back in 2009, a trade for Mark Kotsay is unlikely and Rollins' practice tee work continues to pay off.
Comments (61)
All I got to say is Wow!!! May have been one of the best baseball games I have ever watched.— Beef69- My internet was down last night so I couldn't follow the game live (I live in Atlanta) on the Net. So I watched the Cubs game and they showed scores every 30 minutes. 7-0 Mets.....7-5 Mets....then I watched the Clinton speech and then the local ATL news...I saw 7-7 all...I didn't find out they won until this morning. Can I tell you what a spring it put into my step this morning!— Deb in Dixie
- I guess it's fun to be a sportswriter some days, isn't it Zo? Almost as good a game as the 11-10 game last year.— jimmymack
Stunning. Just speechless after that one. No doubt one of, if not THE, greatest game I have ever been at. My wife and 2 daughters were looking at the clock once the Phils got down 7-0. (And it was a very sloooow first 4 innings.) I told 'em that getting down early just sets up a bigger comeback, and that the key was to get to the Mets' bullpen. Pedro, while shutting out the Phils early, had thrown a lot of pitches in the first 4 innings, so I thought that might work against him, and it sure did. That game was pure fun. Now on to tonight. It's Kyle Kendrick's job to go 7 innings tonight and not give up more than 3 runs. The bullpen is gonna be tired, but Lidge will be available, so we need to get to him. GO PHILS!!!— bobby- I hate to look at sports from purely an entertainment perspective. I am/was a player, and a coach. It's always all about the sport, the competition.....but last night's game was by far the most entertaining I've seen since the Phils/Cubs 24-23 game in which Schmidy hit 4 HRs when I was a kid....if this team even played with half the fire, talent and determination we saw on display again last night there's no telling how huge our lead would be by now in this mediocre division.....watching the Mets fans dying on every pitch and hit was the sweetest.....ok, Phils, now that you've wet our appetite for winning baseball again in this city and beyond (I'm in FL), do you guys have the cajones to follow thru and win this thing?...and whyd did it take so long? Do you have any idea how many ulcers and migraines you guys have caused across the country? Jimmy, you keep playing like this, the way you're capable of and I'll have your children.— Mark1npt
- Unbelievable game. This is why we watch baseball. They're on a J-Roll now with the spark plug hitting again. Myers at the plate was like comic relief in the 13th. And let's not forget Condrey's broken bat double in the 5th.— s
- That was fun. I loved watching the out of town scoreboard. Red Sox-Yankees, normally 5 hour marathons ended, then the midwest games, then all but 1 west coast game ended. This team seems to be gelling and peaking at the right time. A lot like Colorado last season.— Joe in Haddonfield
- Speaking of broken bats, there must have been 20 last night. I believe Clay Condrey came about 5 feet from taking one in the face on a borken bat hit in the 5th inning or so. Not to get off topic, but if they don't make some changes, it's just a matter of time before a player, fan, coach, or ump is seriously hurt or even killed by a flying shard of hardwood.— bobby
- WHATA A GREAT GAME!! I must admit I was a bit worried there early in the game when the Mets were giving Moyer a run for his money. Sorry to see him have such a bad game. J-Roll, this is the player we know and love! How about Condrey's double?! Bruntlett's clutch hit?! And of course Coste's winning hit (4-4 off the bench!!!)Gonna be a tough one tonight with Santana on the mound. Let's hope Kendrick and the Phils give him a belated birthday present (his birthday was last night) and that the momentum from last night's game continues. GO PHILS!!!— KarenA
- I also say have to say, I love the way this team stays in games. Down but never out!! Going to be a tough one tonight. But they have to battle. Have to let Santana throw a lot of pitches. Got to get to the Pig-Pen again.— Beef69
- btw....2007 again?...I'd prefer that it was 1980 again....who could possibly fathom 2 World Championships in 1 lifetime...in Philly?— Mark1npt
- Sorry, 1981 here. Was not alive yet.— Beef69
- Too bad Beef...it was a wild ride thru the season and the playoffs......and it ended with the big prize, a parade.....hope you get to experience one of those.— Mark1npt
- Bobby, interesting you should bring up the bats. Yesterday a guy named Ward Dill unveiled a new bat he invented. It is called the Radial Bat. It is made from 12 wedges of wood that are combined with adhesive and clamped under pressure. He says it is impossible for this maple bat to shatter. He said his goal was to invent a safer bat (and an alternative to metal bats) that would perform just like a regular bat. Here is a link to the article for anyone interested: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-unbreakablewoodenbat&prov=ap&type=lgns— bski
- Mark: The final score of that game against the Cubs was 23-22, actually, and it was not the game that Schmidt hit the four HRs. That was a different game (believe it or not... oh how Schmidtty must have loved Wrigley field). Schmidtty was 2-for-4 with 4 walks in the 23-22 game, which was in 1979 (had to be, because Pete Rose had 4 RBI that game). Schmidtty's four HR game in Wrigley was in '76.— RollinsWasRight
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