Mets Improved Bullpen Shows Tonight, Turns Tide of Rivalry

When Jerry Manuel went out to get the ball from Pelfrey, who had gone 5 and 1/3  innings and had maintained a 7-3 New York lead, he was asking his bullpen to do something that could not have been feasible the year before: Get 11 outs against the Phillies, and don't blow this.

The first to come in was Feliciano, who out of this year's bullpen is the one who most bears the weight of last year's. 

He got five of the 11 necessary outs, giving up only a HR to Chase Utley.  Otherwise, he was spotless.

Those five outs were the toughest and most gut wrenching to get through, as having a three run lead with J.J. in the 8th and K-Rod in the 9th usually means good things.  And it did tonight.

Putz came in in the 8th and set them down in order.

Then came the closer: Francisco Rodriguez.  These games are the reason K-Rod was acquired. 

He got Rollins to hit a broken-bat pop up just out of the infield that Cora was able to wrangle into his glove.  He got Victorino to swing at some nasty pitches and look foolish while striking out. 

Utley was able to work a walk out of him, which brought big Ryan Howard to the plate, who could make the game very interesting with one swing of the bat. 

Howard struck out swinging, and to quote Gary Cohen: "The ball game is OVER." (He always emphasizes the word "over" when it's a big win).

If you tell the Phillies and their fans that the Mets bullpen would be coming in to try and record the last 11 outs with a four-run lead, most would make the case that the Phillies had a greater chance to come back and win than losing. 

That's how it's been the past couple years.

But not this year.  This year, the bullpen is fixed.  And if you don't believe it, just look to your one hit and walk in the last 3 and 1/3 innings of the game.  This year will be different.

The Mets and the bullpen sent a message to the Phillies tonight.  If you want to win the division: Come get it.