Oct 3, 2008 - 2:26 AM
0 shoutsBy Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- All Brett Myers did in Game Two of the National League Division Series was outduel CC Sabathia, but all anyone wanted to discuss with the righthander afterward was his hitting.
Myers pitched seven solid innings in the Philadelphia Phillies' 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers to give his team a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-five series. However, Myers also did his part to have Sabathia depart to an early shower.
The Phillies' starter did not get a hit off the NL's best pitcher in the second half of the season, but helped wear out the hefty lefthander with two at-bats totaling 19 pitches. Sabathia labored through a 98-pitch outing that lasted just 3 2/3 innings.
"We were trying to get his pitch count up because he has been so dominant over the course of this season with the Brewers," Myers said. "You just try to get him out of there as quick as possible because he is so good."
Myers tried to make light of his offensive contribution after repeated questioning by reporters about his hitting during the postgame press conference.
"Did I pitch tonight?" Myers asked.
In his first plate appearance in the second inning, Myers battled Sabathia for nine pitches before drawing a two-out walk that drew a standing ovation and ultimately led to a grand slam by Shane Victorino that capped a five-run frame.
"I wasn't trying to be a hero in that situation," Myers said. "I was just trying to work him."
Myers made Sabathia work even harder during a 10-pitch at-bat in the fourth before flying out, drawing another ovation from the sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
"Honestly, I didn't really hear or pay attention to (the crowd)," Myers said. "If I would have, I probably would have swung at some of those pitches."
Myers batted just once more and wasted no time as he lined a two-out single to right on the first pitch from reliever Seth McClung in the fifth that loaded the bases, but McClung eventually got the third out.
Right fielder Jayson Werth, who hit two doubles in the game, was riveted by Myers' at-bats along with his teammates.
"We were pumped. The guys that know Brett and his personality couldn't have dreamt of a better situation for him," Werth said. "Brett's a competitor. He wants to win. I think that's overlooked sometimes with him. He's a horse."
