--RHP Ryan Madson hadn't allowed a run in eight innings since June 29. In 26 innings since May 25, he had permitted only three runs for a 1.04 ERA. But with one swing, Madson gave up three runs in the sixth inning Wednesday night when Mets SS Jose Reyes belted a three-run homer over the right field wall, the decisive blow in a 6-3 Phillies loss at Shea Stadium.
--RHP Joe Blanton, acquired last week from the Athletics for three minor-leaguers, allowed five runs over six innings and was on the hook for a loss Tuesday night until the Phillies rallied for six runs in the ninth to beat the Mets 8-6 at Shea Stadium. And while Blanton knows his Phillies debut could've gone better, he wasn't terribly disappointed, either. "It was one of those games where I feel like I threw a little better than five runs," Blanton said Wednesday. "It was one of those games where you make a mistake and get hurt. I hung a slider that cost me a two-run homer (to Ramon Castro). A leadoff walk on four pitches (to Jose Reyes), that was a mistake. Two out of three walks scored. That's what it boiled down to."
Said manager Charlie Manuel, "I think he threw good, really. Just the way he goes about his business shows he likes to pitch. Just pitching in the National League will be different for him, but he'll learn. He'll stay in games longer, and we'll have a chance at winning."
--OF So Taguchi admitted he has spoken with manager Charlie Manuel about his lack of playing time, a factor that Manuel agrees has contributed to Taguchi's ineffectiveness for the Phillies.
"I have been in kind of a tough situation because I haven't gotten many at-bats," said Taguchi, whose pinch-hit, two-run double over Mets RF Endy Chavez's head tied Tuesday night's game in the ninth inning. "It's totally different from last year. I got 300 at-bats last year. Last month, I got maybe five at-bats, and this month, maybe six."
Last season, Taguchi paced the majors with a .406 pinch-hit average and got 307 at-bats for the Cardinals. This year, he's 2-for-18 as a pinch hitter and has only 69 at-bats.
"The way our outfield sets up, we've got (Geoff) Jenkins and (Jayson) Werth, and we've got (Shane) Victorino and (Pat) Burrell," Manuel said. "When you try to find a lot of playing time for (Taguchi), it's kind of tough. I've told him, 'Just keep yourself ready because you never know.'"
--LF Pat Burrell and RF Jayson Werth threw out the Mets' Endy Chavez at the plate in the third and seventh innings, respectively, Tuesday night. Phillies outfielders lead the league with 24 assists after pacing the NL with 39 last season. So, why did the Mets keep running on them? "Chavez is a speed guy, and I think that enters a third base coach's mind," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's more apt to try and score him. Burrell gave (SS Jimmy) Rollins a tremendous throw, and Rollins made a (terrific) throw on the cutoff."
BY THE NUMBERS: 10 -- Victories in as many career starts against the Marlins for ageless Jamie Moyer. He's the first pitcher to win his first 10 starts against one team since Pedro Martinez won his first 12 against the Mariners.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's good to see some old faces that you didn't see in a while, to have them tell you, 'What the (heck) is wrong with you? This is the way you used to be.' When they tell you that, it opens your eyes a little bit and you go, 'What the heck have I become?'" -- RHP Brett Myers, on the effect of his three-week minor-league assignment.
