Phillies vs. Mets

R.A. Dickey and Cole Hamels locked up in a pitchers’ duel Friday night at Citi Field.  Both pitchers went the distance, but the night belonged to Dickey as the Mets defeated the Phillies 1-0.

Dickey’s knuckleball baffled the Phillies hitters all night long, and as he cruised through five hitless innings, Mets fans wondered if this might be the first no-hitter in franchise history.   But it was the opposing pitcher that spoiled that bid as Hamels hit a clean single to right field with one out in the sixth inning.   Meanwhile, Hamels kept the Mets off balance and off of the scoreboard.  It looked like the Mets had taken a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Mike Hessman hit a drive to left field that the umpires called a home run.  However, after a lengthy replay review, the umps ruled fan interference on the play and placed Hessman on third base.   Despite being on third with no outs, the Mets stranded Hessman and let a golden opportunity slip by.

In the sixth, the Mets finally broke through.  With two outs and no one on base, David Wright and Carlos Beltran hit back-to-back doubles to plate the game’s first – and only – run.  Dickey (8-5) didn’t allow a base runner after Hamels’ single, finishing with seven strikeouts in his nine innings.  Hamels (7-9) took the hard-luck loss for the Phils.

 

 

Braves vs. Dodgers

Pitching also stole the spotlight in Atlanta on Friday night as the first place Braves defeated the Dodgers by a score of 1-o.

The Braves’ Tim Hudson and the Dodgers’  Hiroki Kuroda matched zeroes for six innings.  The game’s lone run came in the seventh, when Brooks Conrad, playing third base in place of the injured Chipper Jones, homered to center field off of Kuroda.  

Hudson (14-5) allowed just 3 hits over eight innings of work, striking out six.  Kuroda (8-11) took the loss despite allowing just three hits in his seven innings.  Braves’ closer Billy Wagner came on in the ninth and locked down his 29th save of the season.

 

 

Nationals vs. Diamondbacks

The Nationals scored early and let their pitching do the rest, as the Nats defeated the Diamondbacks 4-2 in Washington.

The Nationals scored three runs in the first off of Arizona starter Joe Saunders (1-2), highlighted by a Ryan Zimmerman two-run single.   Wil Nieves extended Washington’s lead to 4-0 with a solo home run in the second.  The D-Backs cut the Nats lead in half with two fifth inning runs off of starter John Lannan, but managed just one hit after that.  Lannan (4-5) allowed just four hits over seven innings, striking out five.  Sean Burnett pitched two perfect innings, striking out four, to pick up his second save on the season.

 

 

Marlins vs. Reds

The Reds roughed up Marlins’ ace Josh Johnson Friday night as they cruised to a 7-2 victory in Cincinnati.

The Reds jumped on Johnson in the first inning, scoring three runs courtesy of RBI singles by Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Jay Bruce.  Bruce later homered as the Reds built a 7-0 lead.   The Marlins’ only offense came off of the bat of rookie Mike Stanton, who hit solo home runs in both the sixth and eighth innings. 

Edinson Volquez (3-1) scattered eight hits over six innings of work, allowing just one run and striking out six.  Johnson (10-5) lasted just 3.2 innings in the loss, allowing six runs and ten hits.

Friday’s games:

Nationals vs. Diamondbacks

The Nationals begin their series with Arizona tonight in Washington. John Lannan (3-5, 5.44 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals. Joe Saunders (7-11, 4.42 ERA) starts for Arizona. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Marlins vs. Reds

Josh Johnson (10-4, 1.97 ERA) and the Marlins take on Edinson Volquez (2-1, 4.94 ERA) and the Reds. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. in Cincinnati.

Mets vs. Phillies

The Mets and Phillies begin a three-game series tonight in New York. R.A. Dickey (7-5, 2.65 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets. Cole Hamels (7-8, 3.45 ERA) starts for Philadelphia. Game time is 7:10 p.m.

Braves vs. Dodgers

The Braves send Tim Hudson (13-5, 2.24 ERA) to the mound as they take on the Dodgers tonight in Atlanta. Hiroki Kuroda (8-10, 3.65 ERA) starts for Los Angeles. First pitch is 7:35 p.m.

Braves vs. Reds

Tommy Hanson (8-7, 3.99 ERA) and the Braves look to take the rubber game of the three-game set with the Reds. Edinson Volquez (1-1, 8.25 ERA) gets the start for the Reds. Game time is 1:10 p.m. in Cincinnati.

Mets vs. Diamondbacks

The Mets send Jon Niese (7-4, 3.43 ERA) to the mound as they go for the series win against the Diamondbacks. Rodrigo Lopez (5-9, 4.68 ERA) starts for Arizona. First pitch is 1:10 p.m. in N.Y.

Nationals vs. Phillies

The Nationals go for the sweep Sunday against the  Phillies in Washington. John Lannan (2-5, 5.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Nationals. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.48 ERA) starts for Philadelphia. Game time is 1:35 p.m.

Marlins vs. Padres

Josh Johnson (10-3, 1.72 ERA) and the Marlins go for the sweep Sunday against the Padres. Jon Garland (9-7, 3.56 ERA) gets the start for the Padres. First pitch is 4:05 p.m. in San Diego.

Thursday’s games:

Marlins vs. Rockies

Josh Johnson (10-3, 1.62 ERA) and the Marlins finish their series with the Rockies this afternoon. Jorge De La Rosa (3-2, 6.16 ERA) gets the start for Colorado. Game time is 12:10 p.m. in Florida.

Nationals vs. Reds

Livan Hernandez (6-6, 3.27 ERA) takes the mound for the Nationals as they close out their series with the Reds. Edinson Volquez (1-0, 1.50 ERA) starts for the Reds. First pitch is 12:35 p.m. in Cincinnati.

Braves vs. Padres

Tim Hudson (9-5, 2.60 ERA) goes for win number 10 as he and the Braves take on Clayton Richard (7-4, 3.53 ERA) and the Padres. Game time is 1:05 p.m. in Atlanta.

Phillies vs. Cardinals

The Phillies send Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.63 ERA) to the mound against Adam Wainwright (14-5, 2.02 ERA) and the Cardinals. First pitch is 2:15 p.m. in St. Louis.

Mets vs. Dodgers

The Mets begin their series with the Dodgers tonight in Los Angeles. Hisanori Takahashi (7-4, 4.69 ERA) gets the start for the Mets. Hiroki Kuroda (7-8, 3.74 ERA) starts for the Dodgers. Game time is 10:10 p.m.