PHILLIES SWEEP

THE METS

FOR AMERICA

I left for the shore Thursday night after work around 8pm. Just in time to arrive at Charlie’s bar in Somers Point, NJ for the 8th inning of the last of 3 games with the Braves. Trying to avoid the sweep, we ordered clams, sandwiches and some cold ones. Tied 2-2 we had a good chance of coming away with a “W”.  Despite the fact that there was a lonely Atlanta fan cheering and clapping at every strike against the Phillies sitting a few seats away, I didn’t let it bother me.  We ate our food, drank our beers, and watched the Phillies blow another game by letting up 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and never getting them back.  “What is wrong with these fucking Phillies?” I thought to myself. Having lost 14 of the last 18 games, the Phillies were looking far different from the team that just won the World Series.  Jimmy Rollins was on some ridiculous slump. Something like 0 for 25.  Being that I just arrived at the beach for 4 nights and it was a holiday weekend and I had a trunk full of booze I was still in high spirits but I couldn’t help but thinking how awful it would be if the Phillies continue to slump and get embarrassed by the Mets.  I always feel like the Mets games are more important than any other games.  I take it personally when the Phillies lose to the Mets. I need to retain those bragging rights so when I’m passing a Mets fan on the street I can still yell “Mets Suck!” with confidence.

I came to the shore prepared with all of my anti-Mets T-Shirts ready to represent my team all weekend regardless of the outcome of the games. Friday came and Aileene and I started off the morning by having 3 tequila shots for breakfast.

After we caught a nice morning buzz we headed to the beach for the day.  We came back around 5, did 3 more shots and got ready for the Friday night game. And what a game. Phillies got it started with a 3-run first inning, a 1-run second inning and a 3-run third inning.  They didn’t score any more runs, but 7 was good enough.  The rookie Lopez was brilliant going 6 1/3 with 6 hits, 4K’s and 1BB. Letting only 2 runs score before he was taken out in the top of the 7th.  Saturday came and my mini vacation and the Phils-Mets series were off to a great start.  The 4 o’clock game put Moyer on the mound, who got off to a shaky start this season.   More tequila and we were off to the beach again. This time with a live broadcast of the game on my phone and my favorite shirt for Phillies-Mets match-ups:

Phillies got off to another great start by putting up 1 run in the first and never looking back.  Moyer had one of his best starts of the season going 6 1/3 with only 5 hits and 1 run which came in the 5th – it would be the only run the Mets would score, losing to the Philles 4-1.  This was starting to look like one of the best 4th of July weekends ever with the beautiful weather, great food, lots of tequila and the Phillies winning the first 2 of the series.

A different day but the routine stays the same.  Sunday comes and a 1 o’clock game isn’t far away. More tequila and off to the beach with beers, sandwiches and a radio.  Blanton vs. Santana (who is 9-0 career against the Phils).  Guess what? Doesn’t matter. We smoked em’ to complete the first sweep of the Mets since August 2007 which was a 4 game sweep.  Blanton was incredible pitching 7 1/3 scoreless innings with 5 K’s, 3 BB and only 4 hits. This guy is slowly becoming my favorite Phillies starter.

Photo Credit : Tom Mihalek / AP

Phillies scored 1 in the first (again) and 1 in the 6th. And today 2 was enough.  Lidge, looking the closest he has this season to last, struck out the side in the top of the 9th and the rest goes in the history books.  A great 4th of July weekend with friends, great weather and a sweep of the Mets. Life doesn’t get much better.

Christian.