Phillies hit four homers, knock out Santana
PHILADELPHIA - Johan Santana had plenty of regrettable moments during last night's game at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies delivered one of the most brutal beatings in his 11-year career.
Santana allowed a career-high 10 runs, including nine in the fourth inning. He served up a career-worst four homers, the lowlight being a grand slam to Shane Victorino.
But rock bottom for Santana had to be his staredown with 47-year-old Jamie Moyer, whose bases-loaded walk with two outs triggered the entire fourth-inning catastrophe.
Santana immediately fell behind 2-and-0 to Moyer, then 3-and-1 before a foul ball pushed the count full. Moyer then took an inside fastball and the seven-pitch walk forced in a run that trimmed the Mets' lead to 5-4.
That was the beginning of the end for Santana, who then allowed Victorino's slam and a single to Placido Polanco before Chase Utley's two-run homer essentially buried the Mets at 10-5. The 10 runs were the most given up by Santana since the Yankees ripped him for nine last season on June 14 and the most by a Mets pitcher since Orlando Hernandez allowed 11 against the Phillies in 2006.
Santana's fourth-inning meltdown was a shocking turnaround for the Mets, who wasted leads of 3-0 and 5-2. David Wright, who entered last night's game batting .426 (20-for-47) with three homers against Moyer, took him deep for a three-run shot in the first inning.
But the Phillies answered with home runs from Polanco and Ryan Howard in the bottom of the first. Santana shook it off by retiring the next seven batters and Rod Barajas provided what the Mets thought was breathing room with a two-run homer in the fourth. That was before Santana completely collapsed in the bottom half.
By then, Jerry Manuel's lineup card was an afterthought. His flair for interesting lineups continued in last night's series finale. The same manager who introduced Mike Jacobs as the Mets' Opening Day cleanup hitter, and two weeks later had Frank Catalanotto in that spot for the first time in his 12-year career, picked last night to use a pair of questionable backups in support of Santana.
Manuel chose to start Gary Matthews Jr. in centerfield and put Fernando Tatis at first base in place of rookie Ike Davis after consulting the duo's numbers against Moyer. Matthews went 0-for-4; Tatis was 1-for-3 with a double.
Matthews was batting .156 (5-for-32) heading into the game, but .304 (7-for-23) with two home runs off Moyer. Tatis was at .207 (6-for-29) this season and .364 (8-for-22) with a home run against the ageless junkballer.
Though it is standard procedure for managers to throw a bone to their bench players in an effort to keep them fresh, the timing was questionable. With Santana on the mound, Manuel was not using his best defensive alignment, and last night also was a chance for the Mets to win a fourth straight series - as well as leave Philadelphia in first place.
"It's more or less the history," Manuel said, "and it's a chance to give some guys a little breather."
As far as Davis, Manuel didn't mind giving the 23-year-old a break after playing 12 straight games since his major-league debut April 19. Still, Davis has looked fine in hitting .306 (11-for-36) with a homer and six RBIs during that stretch.
"I think for Ike, it gives him a chance to exhale," Manuel said. "We played him every game, every inning and he's done very well. Now this gives him a chance to exhale a little bit, take it in and freshen him up for the next series."
When asked about his first day off, Davis shrugged. He didn't feel tired, but he understood Manuel's logic.
"Obviously, you want to play," Davis said. "But if [Manuel] says it, then it's the right thing to do."
