Taylor helps R-Phils slam Senators

By Tony Zonca

READING, Pa. – Michael Taylor was due. He is too good a hitter to be mired in a 1-for-13 slump with runners in scoring position. Something had to give, and in this case it was Harrisburg Senators left-hander Justin Jones.

Taylor jumped all over a 1-0 fastball from Jones with the bases loaded in the fifth inning of a scoreless game, sending the pitch deep over the billboards to the right of the light pole in left, his first slam of the season and his 11th homer.

The Phillies tacked on two more runs in the eighth following Luke Montz’s two-run homer for the Senators and came away with a soggy 6-2 victory, their 12th over their state rival in 20 meetings.

Joe Savery (9-1), facing the Senators a sixth time this season, extended his scoreless-innings streak to 14.2 innings with five more Saturday night before a second rain delay ended his night. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one.

He improved to 4-1 against the Senators and lowered his ERA to 3.24. He has not lost since April 16, against these same Senators, and emerged tied as the victory leader in Double-A as well as tied for second in all of Minor League Baseball. 

The Phillies squandered a couple of early scoring chances, failing to score in the second despite a walk and a pair of doubles, and in the third when they loaded the bases on an infield single and a pair of bunt singles with none out.

The Senators (25-40) cut the lead to two runs in the eighth on Montz’s jack to right, his fifth. He also doubled twice, supplying much of the Senators’ offense.

The Phillies (39-28) matched the effort in their half, Brad Harman singling in one run, the other scoring on a throwing error.

Jones fell to 2-10 overall, 1-4 against the Phillies.

As for Taylor, afterward he was not in a good mood. He had come up with the bases loaded in the third inning and popped up. He came up with the bases loaded in the eighth and hit into a 3-6-3 double play on a 3-1 pitch.

Despite the fact that Taylor is hitting just .246 against the Senators, their manager, former Phillie and big leaguer John Stearns, said about the big guy: “He just might be the best prospect in the Eastern League.”

LIDGE LEDGER: Brad Lidge got the start Saturday night for the Phillies in a Major League rehab assignment. He was testing a sprained right knee that had put him on the disabled list following his sixth blown save of the season June 6 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

He threw 15 pitches -- 11 for strikes -- and showed consistent command with both his fastball (91-93 mph) and his trademark slider. He allowed a leadoff double, a stolen base and struck out two batters. The Senators’ Ian Desmond, who had hustled a single into a double and then stole third, was thrown out at the plate on a ground ball to third.

“I felt real good,” Lidge said, “and that’s the big thing for me right now. Looking at the velocity and things like that is not my biggest concern. The biggest thing for me right now is to get out there and push off my back leg and make sure that feels good. I did that today and it did feel good, so I was very happy with the outing.

“I was happy with my command. Being able to use my backside, my back leg, obviously it helps to get the ball to the plate quicker, but it also helps with a lot more consistent command. I felt after the first hitter I was able to put the ball where I wanted to.”

Lidge said the plan is for him to accompany the big league club to Tampa Bay and pitch an inning Tuesday for Clearwater in the Florida State League. He could come off the DL after that outing, or could come back again Thursday for one more rehab outing, depending on how he feels physically.

“Today was a big step for me in that I didn’t have to think about my back leg at all,” said Lidge, who threw two bullpen sessions earlier in the week. “I didn’t have to think about my mechanics, which I’ve been doing the better part of two months.”

Lidge was particularly pleased to be able to throw out of the stretch position with no discomfort. 

Lidge was 0-3 with 13 saves in 19 opportunities for the big club. He owned a 7.27 ERA and had given up 33 hits in 26 innings, with 28 strikeouts and 14 walks. He also was the victim of seven home runs. Last year, of course, he converted all 48 save opportunities for the world champions, including the clincher in the World Series.

PHILLERS: Saturday’s game was delayed twice -- 35 minutes when rain struck in the top of the second and 51 minutes in the bottom of the sixth. . . . Lefties Joe Savery and Justin Jones hooked up for the fifth time this season. . . . Pat Overholt has allowed eight home runs this season, all at FirstEnergy Stadium. . . . Before Luke Montz’s two-run homer in the eighth, Phillies pitching had allowed two earned runs over 25.2 innings. . . . Quintin Berry had three hits and is 5-for-8 the last two nights. . . . Tuffy Goeswisch and Savery (.259) had two hits apiece.

This story was posted on June 20, 2009