Note: Daniel Murphy Is Clutch
In the eighth inning of last night’s come-for-behind win versus the Phillies, Daniel Murphy, who was mired in an 0-for-16 slump, came to the plate with the scored tied at three with two on and two out to face Phillies closer Brad Lidge.
Murphy lined a clutch double to left to score the go-ahead run and put the Mets in the lead for good.
Jerry Manuel, on his confidence in Murphy, speaking to reporters after the game:
“I feel very comfortable. He is very good hitter. We’ve seen him in one of his better streaks and now we see him somewhat struggle, coming back to normal. But at the same time he is putting together good at-bats. I feel very confident when he is at the plate. I never thought about pinch hitting for him. He is a part of what we are doing and feel like he can come through for us and he did.”
Unlike Manuel, I thought either Fernando Tatis or Damion Easley should have pinch hit for Murphy when Phillies LHP Scott Eyre came on to pitch in the sixth. I’m glad Manuel had faith in his young player, because it certainly paid off later.
