707 Days' Rest, Phils Beat Mets 7-2
The last time Rodrigo Lopez pitched in the majors was 2007
By ROB MAADI and KAREN ARAIZA
Updated 11:45 PM EST, Fri, Jul 3, 2009
Rodrigo Lopez walked off the mound to a standing ovation from a sellout crowd in the home of the defending World Series champions. Not bad for a guy who hadn't pitched in the majors in two years.
After 707 days' rest, Lopez helped the Phils break a six-game losing streak at home with a 7-2 win over the Mets Friday night.
"I'm pretty happy, pretty excited," said Lopez. "Being out for two years, it was a long way to go, a long battle. I didn't know it would take this long."
Lopez (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits to earn his first win since beating the Phillies on July 7, 2007, when he played for Colorado. The right-hander hadn't pitched in the majors since having elbow ligament replacement surgery 23 months ago.
Jimmy Rollins had two hits and two RBIs for the Phillies. He hit a leadoff double, Shane Victorino followed with a single and Chase Utley's RBI single made it 1-0. After Ryan Howard walked, Werth struck out on a 63 mph curveball. But Greg Dobbs looped a two-run single to left for a 3-0 lead.
Victorino tripled and scored on Utley's sacrifice fly in the second. The Phillies added three more runs in the third to go ahead 7-0.
Werth hit a towering shot over the left-field wall. Rollins lined a two-out, two-run double to center, scurrying to second base because no one covered the bag.
"It seems like we got to the clubhouse excited to be home," said Rollins.
After being swept by the Braves and two back-to-back sweeps at home last month against Toronto and Baltimore, it was a much-needed win. The Phils have won just five of the last 19 games.
Lopez was a two-time 15-game winner with Baltimore, but inconsistency and a major injury derailed his career. He filled in for injured rookie Antonio Bastardo, who replaced Brett Myers when he had hip surgery. The standing ovation was not what he expected.
"It's been a while since I've been in this kind of environment," Lopez said. "The most people I see is like 10,000. It was very exciting, pretty emotional."
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Philadelphia
First Published: Jul 3, 2009 10:13 PM EST
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