Happ gets the call

PHILADELPHIA — Happ-y Days are here again!

As reported at bcrnews.com Friday, St. Bede Academy product J.A. Happ got his second call to the Major Leagues to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies Friday night.

His assignment — the very same New York Mets he made his Big League debut just over a year ago. And he was to match up against Mets’ multi-millionaire pitcher Johan Santana.

Friday’s game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia started after the BCR’s early 4th of July press deadlines.

Happ, who was just named the Phillies’ Minor League pitcher for the month of June for Triple A Lehigh Valley, was summoned to fill in the slot for the struggling Brett Myers, who was optioned to Lehigh Valley. How long Happ stays up depends on how he pitched and how Myers pitches in the minors.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told mlb.com Happ’s command is much better this season.

“They say he’s a completely different pitcher with his command,” Manuel said of Happ.

“His fastball is sneaky, and it gets up on hitters. ... I think if he’s going to pitch a good game, he’s going to pitch it.”

Happ, 25-year-old left-hander who was the Phillies’ third-round draft pick in 2004, has thrown at least six innings in seven of his past 10 starts with Lehigh Valley. Happ was 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 starts with the IronPigs this season. He last pitched on June 28.

Happ made his Big League debut June 30, 2007, tagged for an 8-3 loss against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. He was tagged for five runs on seven hits, including three homers.

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