July 4, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. - Former Northwestern standout J.A. Happ (2002-04) went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and three hits while striking out three in making his first Major League start of the 2008 season Friday evening for the Philadelphia Phillies. Happ was credited with a no-decision as the Phillies came from behind to top the New York Mets 4-3.

It was the second MLB start of Happ's career, with both coming against the Mets. The first came almost exactly a year ago. As if the pressure of getting the starting nod on the Fourth of July in the City of Brotherly Love against the Phillies' arch-rival wasn't enough, Happ had to do so against Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.

However, Happ held his own, blanking the Mets over the first four innings. He ran into trouble in the fifth inning, though, as two hits and a walk loaded the bases with no one out. After retiring Santana, Happ got Jose Reyes to ground into a fielder's choice forceout at second base with the first run coming into score.

Following a walk that re-loaded the bases, Happ nearly struck out David Wright but ended up walking him to force in another run, bringing his night to a close.

"I might have tried to do too much that inning," Happ said. "I was close. I kept us in there."

Philadelphia took him off the hook, though, scoring twice in the sixth before winning it on a walk-off hit in the ninth.

"I knew I had to be very good going up against (Santana)," Happ said. "I would have liked to have gone deeper in the game, though.

"The stage was very different. It was a great experience."

"He hung in there. He battled," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Happ. "He's improved a lot since last year. He has a better fastball. With more seasoning, his command will get better."