August 2009 Philadelphia Phillies season

pedro martínez joined rotation in august after jamie moyer demoted bullpen.

the phillies opened month of august 3 straight losses, stopper s role again fell rookie happ, pitched second shutout of season—and second of career—against rockies on august 5. earned team s 60th win of season while allowing 4 hits , striking out ten batters first time in career. in accordance 8–2 record , strong performances, amaro announced happ remain in phillies starting rotation despite team s acquisitions of lee , pedro martínez; rumors regarding happ s status had been rampant since martínez signing , during trade season when happ rumored centerpiece of potential trade blue jays roy halladay. new pitcher lee stifled rockies following day win series phillies second consecutive strong performance, allowing 1 run on 7 innings , allowing 6 hits. in following series florida, however, phillies struggled. marlins swept 3 games of series, included victorino s first career ejection on several close calls umpire ed rapuano, , crucial error victorino s center field replacement, werth, in final game of series. moyer pitched against marlins in game, team against had prior success in career (13–3, 2.87 era in 100 ⁄3 innings pitched), , allowed 2 earned runs on eleven singles through 5 innings; however, rotation-high 5.47 era, phillies demoted moyer bullpen allow martínez start. francisco hit second phillies home run against cubs on august 11; came in 12th inning , scored game-winning run phillies. became first win of three-game series sweep, lee closed out third straight dominant performance (eight innings pitched, 1 run allowed, 8 strikeouts). phillies took 2 of 3 games braves in next series, , completed three-game homestand against diamondbacks complete game lee, carried no-hitter sixth inning, , 8 innings of three-run baseball blanton.

martínez faced off against former club on august 23, series tied 1–1. mets starter Óliver pérez allowed 6 runs in first inning , pulled in middle of martínez first at-bat, down in count 3–0. Ángel pagán led off mets first inside-the-park home run after ball became lodged underneath outfield wall. martínez pitched 6 innings, allowing 4 runs, score 9–6 end of eighth inning. lidge allowed run score , had runners on first , second, in part booted base hit , error eric bruntlett. mets had no outs , jeff francoeur @ plate representing go-ahead run. francoeur hit line drive on second base bag, bruntlett caught it, stepped on second base, , tagged daniel murphy coming first, completing 15th unassisted triple play in baseball s modern era , second in phillies history (mickey morandini) in game called league s quirkiest of season . phillies closed series 6–2 win behind lee s eighth straight victory (seven innings pitched, no earned runs). win on august 26, phillies claimed victory in year s series on pirates; however, bucs won 2 games in three-night set wherein game-winning run scored in eighth inning or later each night. andrew mccutchen hit game-winning two-run home run off of lidge in ninth inning of opener; howard hit game-winning three-run shot phillies in top of tenth on august 26 after pirates tied in ninth on brandon moss home run. garrett jones set pirates rookie record 15th home run off of happ in eighth inning of series finale. phillies closed month taking 2 of 3 games braves. 11 home run performance in august, howard won national league player of month award.