Phillies Blunders Blow 9th Inning Lead

Now the Phillies can`t even make a routine throw back to the mound after a pitch – and it cost them a game.

First Philadelphia couldn`t hold a two-run lead in the ninth inning. Then came a bizarre pair errors that sent the New York Mets on to 10-7 victory Monday.

"I thought I saw everything in baseball, but that play put the icing on the cake," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "It was by far our worst game of the year. Errors, pickoffs and bad communication. We played very young today. You can`t expect to win when you play that badly.

After Jose Mesa blew a save for the first time since May 28 – also against the Mets – pitcher Jose Santiago let catcher Todd Pratt`s throw back to the mound bounce off his glove.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins picked up the ball and threw to third in an attempt to stop Todd Zeile from advancing, but it went wide of Scott Rolen as Zeile scored for an 8-7 lead.

"I don`t know what happened. I just took off when the ball got away," Zeile said. "Maybe he lost it in the shadows. When it got away, it was off to the races. It was going to be a close play at third. I think I blocked (Rolen`s) view of the throw and was able to score."

Santiago appeared to look frustrated that he didn`t get a called third strike on the pitch to Robin Ventura, putting his head down.

"That`s not why the play happened," Santiago said in his only postgame remarks.

Pratt wasn`t mad about not getting the strike call. He, too, couldn`t believe what happened.

"I was shocked," he said.

First baseman Kevin Jordan, filling in for Travis Lee, earlier made a pair of costly errors. Philadelphia, which began last weekend as the top defensive team in the NL, has seven errors in its last two games.

"We didn`t play winning baseball," Jordan said. "There are no excuses. I have to make those plays. That`s the bottom line. I don`t get embarrassed when there`s effort. It`s more discouraging than anything."

The Phillies, who had been 62-0 when leading after eight innings, have lost 13 of their last 18 games and dropped two games back of Atlanta in the NL East. New York has won eight of its last 11.

"Maybe it`s best that everything bad happened in one game," Rolen said. "We had a letdown today. Not often do we fall off to that degree. We just have to come back tomorrow and get it back."

Mesa (1-3), who had converted 21 consecutive save chances, blew a save for just the third time in 38 opportunities and lost for the second time in two days.

"It didn`t look good, down two runs against Mesa," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "This club stayed alert and battled back."

Edgardo Alfonzo singled to start the ninth, Mike Piazza doubled, Tsuyoshi Shinjo hit an RBI groundout, and Zeile tied it with a run-scoring single.

Jay Payton followed with a single and the Phillies replaced Mesa with Santiago, making a double switch by bringing in Pratt to catch.

After the errors, Desi Relaford added a sacrifice fly and pinch-hitter Lenny Harris had an RBI single.

C.J. Nitkowski (1-0), acquired Sunday from Detroit, pitched a scoreless eighth and Armando Benitez finished for his 35th save in 37 chances.

Philadelphia`s Randy Wolf, making his first start since Aug. 1, allowed four runs – three earned – and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He had been on the disabled list because of a sprained left ankle.

Mets starter Bruce Chen, traded by the Phillies on July 27, gave up six runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Piazza, who grew up in nearby Norristown, hit his team leading 31st homer for the Mets and went 3-for-4.

"I think he likes mama`s home cooking; he likes hitting here," Valentine said.

New York shortstop Rey Ordonez made a run-scoring error and was ejected in the eighth by plate umpire Tony Randazzo for arguing a called third strike.

Piazza homered in the first, but the Phillies took a 3-1 lead in the third on Johnny Estrada`s RBI double, Ordonez`s error on Rollins` routine grounder and Rolen`s run-scoring double.

New York tied it in the fourth after left fielder Pat Burrell lost Zeile`s fly ball in the sun. He missed the ball when he put his glove up in self defense as it fell for an RBI single.

Joe McEwing hit a sacrifice fly and Ordonez had a run-scoring infield single.

Estrada homered in the fourth, but Zeile retied it with an RBI single in the fifth, and Jordan`s throwing error in the seventh allowed New York to go ahead 5-4.

Philadelphia rallied for three runs in the seventh when Rollins tripled in a run – his league-leading 11th triple – Rolen hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and Burrell hit a run-scoring single off reliever off Jerrod Riggan.

Notes:
Ordonez had his 61-game errorless streak snapped. His previous error was June 20 against Montreal. ... RF Bobby Abreu didn`t start but pinch hit in the seventh inning. He is the only Phillie to play in each of the team`s 137 games. ... Chen picked off two runners at first. ... Lawton (RF) and Shinjo (LF) each made tough catches in the first inning to rob extra-base hits from the Phillies.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News