Happ strikes out 10 in 4-hit shutout
August 6, 2009
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—When J.A. Happ’s(notes) 127th pitch of the night caught TroyTulowitzki(notes) for a called strike three, he did more than make another selloutcrowd roar in appreciation of a Phillies shutout.
He made manager Charlie Manuel’s decision about what to do withPhiladelphia’s crowded rotation even tougher.
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Happ stated his case to keep his spot with a career-high 10 strikeouts inhis second shutout of the season, leading the Phillies to a 7-0 win over theColorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
“I don’t think one start should affect the situation,” Happ said.
No, but 14 of them and Happ’s top-10 ranking in the National League in ERAis a strong argument. He four-hit the Rockies and was throwing in the low 90s inthe ninth inning.
Manuel never wavered in letting the rookie left-hander go the distance.
“He earned the right to go out there,” Manuel said. “That’s how I look atit.”
But has he earned the right to keep his spot?
His competition was pitching 65 miles away in a rehab start for Double-AReading—three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez(notes). The 37-year-oldright-hander struck out 11 in six innings against the New York Yankees’ Trentonaffiliate.
If Phillies officials are convinced Martinez can start in the major leagues,he likely would send Happ (8-2) to the bullpen.
Manuel says it’s still too early to talk about what the rotation will looklike once Martinez joins the Phillies.
“Let me answer that later on,” he said. “I don’t feel like getting intothat.”
Happ or Martinez. Martinez or Happ. It almost doesn’t matter who is pitchingfor the NL East leaders when they’re swinging the bat like they did againstJorge De La Rosa(notes) (9-8).
Jimmy Rollins(notes), Jayson Werth(notes) and Pedro Feliz(notes) all homered for Philadelphia. DeLa Rosa allowed seven runs in only five innings to end his personal seven-gamewinning streak, tying the longest active streak in the NL. He lost for the firsttime since June 16, ending a 7-for-7 stretch that set the franchise record formost consecutive starts with a win.
De La Rosa also took a one-hopper off his left arm in the fourth inning. Heneeded a visit with the trainer and a few warmup tosses before he resumedpitching.
By then, the Phillies were already ahead 4-0 and Happ was on his way to ashutout that lowered his ERA to 2.74.
“I felt like I was capable of doing it,” Happ said. “You never know ifit’s going to happen.”
Ryan Howard(notes) singled in a run in the first and the Phillies added three morein the second. Feliz hit a solo homer to left, his seventh, and Rollins extendedhis hitting streak to 11 games with a two-run shot, continuing his torridstretch since ending an 0-for-28 drought.
Werth, an NL All-Star, hit an opposite-field, three-run shot in the fifthfor his 23rd homer.
Happ, who earned his first shutout June 27 at Toronto, got a standingovation as he left the mound after the eighth. He heard his loudest cheers ofthe night when he doubled to deep center in the bottom half.
“There comes a point in time when it’s necessary to tip your hat to theother side,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “Happ pitched one of the bestgames we’ve seen all year.”
His outing puts the Phillies in a tough situation.
Reigning AL Cy Young Award Cliff Lee(notes) makes his home debut for the Phillieson Thursday. World Series MVP Cole Hamels(notes) and Joe Blanton(notes) also have locked upspots. The Phillies don’t see 46-year-old Jamie Moyer(notes) as a legitimate option outof the bullpen. Moyer leads the Phillies with 10 wins, but has a whopping 5.55ERA.
That means it could be last call for Happ, who made 13 relief appearancesearlier this season.
“He’s got the stuff to stay in the rotation,” Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz(notes)said.
NOTES: Phillies RHP Brett Myers(notes) (hip) is scheduled to throw a simulated gameon Thursday in Clearwater, Fla. Myers is hopeful of a late-season return. “Ifhe can pitch like I know he can, he’s going to help us,” Manuel said. …Phillies 2B Chase Utley(notes) was hit by a pitch for the 100th time in his career. …Happ’s double was his first career extra-base hit. … Werth has a career high69 RBIs.
