Phils ship Happ back to Triple A

PHILADELPHIA — When the Philadelphia Phillies acquired veteran left-handed pitcher Scott Eyre from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, they had to clear a spot on the 25-man roster. That spot was vacated by J.A. Happ, who was optioned back to Triple A Lehigh Valley Friday afternoon, Phillies media relations director Greg Casterioto told the BCR.

Happ, a 25-year-old lefty out of St. Bede Academy, had been with the big club for the second time this season since July 30. Summoned to pitch in relief, Happ had not been used out of the bullpen for five days when he had a tough outing against the Marlins. He allowed four runs and four hits in two innings of relief.

In his first trip to the big league team this season, Happ earned non-decisions in two starts, both Phillies’ victories over the Mets (July 4) and Cardinals (July 9). He sported a 3.27 ERA in his two starts, a number that has increased to 5.54 following his relief outing.

At Lehigh Valley, Happ lowered his ERA to 3.21 with seven innings of no-hit ball on July 19 against the visiting Scranton/-Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

Eyre, 36, who was designated for assignment earlier this week, was acquired for minor league pitcher Brian Schlitter. Eyre drew the ire of the Cubs manager with his 7.15 ERA in 19 games with the Cubs.

• Cards at Cubs: It was Jim Edmonds 2, Cardinals 2.

As Harry Caray would say, Jim Edmonds bit the hand that once fed him, belting two solo home runs against his former teammates from St. Louis in Friday’s opening game series between N.L. Central rival Cubs and Cardinals.

Edmonds’ second shot tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, and three innings later, the Cubs scored another run in the 11th for a 3-2 win.

The Cubs extended their lead over the Redbirds in the N.L. Central to 7 games, 5 1/2 over the Brewers.

The series resumes Saturday at 2:55 p.m. with Cubs ace Carlos Zam-brano facing former Cub Todd Welleymer. They will play again on ESPN’s Sunday’s Night Game at 7:05 p.m.