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Happ throws shutout, Phillies beat Colorado 7-0

Aug 6, 2009 - 7:45 AM By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- J.A. Happ lost a spot in Philadelphia's rotation out of spring training. He heard his name swirling in every trade-deadline rumor. And now he might just get bumped from the rotation for a former Cy Young winner.

Happ has put aside the distractions and put up numbers worthy of taking his turn every fifth day.

He struck out a career-high 10 and tossed a four-hitter in his second shutout of the season, leading the Phillies to a 7-0 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.

"I think it's actually easier out there," Happ said. "Out there, I can go try and do my thing. In here, that's when I think of the other stuff."

Happ (8-2) and the Phillies have plenty to consider over the next week. Three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez struck out 11 in a rehab start for Double-A Reading and could replace Happ in the rotation.

Manager Charlie Manuel says it's still too early to talk about what the rotation will look like once Martinez joins the Phillies.

"Let me answer that later on," he said. "I don't feel like getting into that."

Happ's outing put the Phillies in a tough situation.

Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee makes his home debut for the Phillies on Thursday. World Series MVP Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton also have locked up spots. The Phillies don't see 46-year-old Jamie Moyer as a legitimate option out of the bullpen. Moyer leads the Phillies with 10 wins, but has a whopping 5.55 ERA.

That means it could be last call for Happ, who made 13 relief appearances earlier this season.

"He's got the stuff to stay in the rotation," Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz said.

Happ, who pitched his first shutout June 27 at Toronto, got a standing ovation as he left the mound after the eighth. He heard his loudest cheers of the night when he doubled to deep center in the bottom half.

"There comes a point in time when it's necessary to tip your hat to the other side," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "Happ pitched one of the best games we've seen all year."

Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz all homered off Jorge De La Rosa (9-8) for Philadelphia.

De La Rosa allowed seven runs in only five innings to end his seven-game winning streak, tying the longest active streak in the NL. He lost for the first time since June 16, ending a 7 for 7 stretch that set the franchise record for most consecutive starts with a win.

Brewers 4, Dodgers 1=

At Los Angeles, Braden Looper bounced back sharply after a couple of miserable outings, Prince Fielder had a tying RBI groundout a night after trying to enter the Dodgers' clubhouse to confront Guillermo Mota and Milwaukee won its first series in over a month.

Looper (10-5) allowed a run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Fielder was booed by the crowd of 50,276 each time he came to bat after his tirade Tuesday night was caught on camera by a news crew. He went 0 for 5, driving in the tying run with a fielder's choice grounder in the third, and stole a base.

Trevor Hoffman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 25th save.

Giants 10, Astros 6=

At Houston, Joe Martinez came off the disabled list to win his first major league start and Eli Whiteside hit a grand slam off Brian Moehler (7-7) for his first career home run.

Martinez (2-0) pitched in the majors for the first time since he was struck in the head by a line drive from Milwaukee's Mike Cameron on April 9. The 26-year-old rookie right-hander gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings.

Nationals 5, Marlins 4=

At Washington, Cristian Guzman fell a home run shy of the cycle, Adam Dunn homered in his third straight game and Washington tied a season high with its fourth straight win.

Ryan Zimmerman and Ronnie Belliard also connected for the Nationals, who improved to 10-6 in their last 16 under interim manager Jim Riggleman. Washington has won the first two games of this series after dropping the first nine meetings this year.

Reds 4, Cubs 0=

At Cincinnati, Scott Rolen returned from a beaning that left him sore and with blurry vision for two days, then hit a two-run homer on his first swing to help Cincinnati snap an eight-game losing streak.

Justin Lehr (1-0) limited the Cubs to four hits in his first complete game. It was his first win since May 18, 2006, with the Brewers.

Mets 9, Cardinals 0=

At New York, Nelson Figueroa pitched 4 1-3 innings and boosted the offense with a two-run triple after Jonathon Niese got hurt, leading New York to the victory.

Angel Pagan hit his second homer in four games and had four RBIs, and David Wright also homered for the Mets.

Niese tore his right hamstring in the second inning when he went to cover first and fell into the splits while trying to complete a double play.

Braves 6, Padres 2=

At San Diego, Tommy Hanson (6-2) pitched six solid innings for the Braves, whose 14 hits were all singles.

San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff tied a team record by hitting into three double plays. Atlanta turned four overall.

Diamondbacks 4, Pirates 3=

At Pittsburgh, Stephen Drew hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning.

Pinch-hitter Alex Romero also had a tying RBI single in the eighth for Arizona, which has won four in a row and six of seven. Ryan Roberts homered for the third time in two games.

Andy LaRoche and Garrett Jones went deep for the Pirates, who have dropped four in a row and nine of 11.