Carlos Torres turned in yet another strong start for the Mets today, going six innings and allowing just two runs, en route to a 4-3 victory over the Phillies. Hell, it’s always a good feeling when we sweep the Phillies. Dominic Brown had a hand in both Philadelphia runs off Torres, scoring the first one on a Kevin Frandsen double and driving in the second one with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.
Scott Atchison pitched a strong inning behind him with two strikeouts, and Vic Black had a troublesome eighth inning, but managed to get out of it with only one run crossing the plate. A wild pitch by Black went behind Recker after he did not set himself correctly, which set up second and third with one out for the Phillies. A foul pop-up by Darin Ruf was hit towards Lucas Duda, who showed shades of Ike Davis by making a catch and nearly flipping over the railing, but Carlos Ruiz was smart enough to tag and score on that ball.
LaTroy Hawkins had to deal with a runner on second in his inning, but he struck out the final two batters to end the game and earn career save No. 100 for him.
The Mets managed to scratch out just enough runs to win this game, and yet again it was the youth movement doing the damage. Wilfredo Tovar ripped a single into left field in the top of the seventh to score Juan Lagares, and a misplay by Brown in left allowed a second run (Anthony Recker) to cross the plate. Lagares went ahead to plate an insurance run in the eighth with a double to score Daniel Murphy. The 6-7-8 hitters really did the damage out there today, with Juan Lagares going 3-for-4 and Recker and Tovar each banging out two hits.
All in all, this was a good game on a Sunday afternoon. The Mets pick up the sweep, Tovar has a solid debut, and Hawkins gets his feel-good moment. Aaron Harang will take on his former team, the Reds, when the Mets swing around to start a series in Cincy tomorrow evening.
