MySports Today

Phillies 2nd baseman Eric Bruntlett turned an unassisted triple play to end Sunday’s 9-7 win over the Mets, only the 2nd time a player has turned that feat in MLB history and the 1st time since 1927.  Let’s set the stage.

The Mets trailed the Phillies 9-6 heading into the 9th inning and faced off against Phillies closer Brad Lidge.  Angel Pagan started the inning off by reaching on an error by Ryan Howard – he made it all the way to 3rd base.  Luis Castillo then reached base on another Phillies error – this one by Bruntlett himself – which allowed Pagan to score.  Daniel Murphy singled which moved Castillo to 2nd base.  Castillo and Murphy attempted a double-steal, but Jeff Francouer hit a scorching line drive up the middle.  Bruntlett was headed over to 2nd base to cover for the steal and ended up catching the line drive for the 1st out of the triple play.  Bruntlett stepped on 2nd base forcing our Castillo who was trying to steal 3rd base.  Bruntlett then reacted quickly tagging Murphy out right near the 2nd base bag for the triple play.  Crazy, crazy, crazy.  It was the 15th triple play all-time in MLB history.

Pedro Martinez picked up his 2nd win in 2009 in his 1st return start against the Mets in New York.  Martinez gave up 4 ER on 7 hits and 1 walk over 6 innings.  Brad Lidge picked up his 25th save of the season. The Phillies are now 21 games over .500 at 71-50.  The Phillies have a 6.5 games lead over the Atlanta Braves and a 7.5 games lead over the Florida Marlins.  With the mid-season addition of Cliff Lee, the Phillies look poised to win the NL Pennant and defend their 2008 World Series title against the AL Pennant winner in the October Classic…

The Phillies announced that Pedro Martinez will make his 1st start of the 2009 MLB schedule against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.  Martinez will oppose right-handed starter Jeff Samardzija – former standout wide receiver at the University of Notre Dame – in the 2nd game of a 3-game series between the defending World Series Champion Phillies and the struggling Cubs.  The 37-year old Martinez bumped the 46-year old Jamie Moyer from his spot in the Phillies starting rotation, while Samardzija is filling in for the injured carlos Zambrano.   Although Martinez did fan 11 guys in 6 innings of his latest rehab start, I’m thinking that he will be rusty – as will Samardzija – and it will be a high-scoring slugfest at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field…

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent starting pitcher Pedro Martinez to a 1-year, $1 million contract.  The contract has incentives which could allow Martinez to earn up to another $1.5 million.  Martinez is a 3-time CY Young Award winner, but he has not pitched in a game since the 2008 MLB schedule.  Martinez went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 2008 for the rival-New York Mets, as he won only 32 games for the Mets during the life of a 4-year $53 million contract that he signed 2005.

Martinez is still as cocky as ever, but a little more realistic.  Here’s what he had to say about joining the Phillies: “I bring with me a legacy, I bring with me my last name…I’ll be the first one convinced, really convinced, if I can do it or not.  If I don’t do it, I’m going to go on and take myself our of baseball.”

It should be interesting to see how Pedro fits in with the Phillies, but I’m sure that the Mets will be thrilled to see Pedey on the mound sometime soon. The defending World Series Champion Phillies hope that Pedey will have enough in the tank to propel them to another NL East division title in 2009 and a long return playoff run to the World Series.