| Posted
7-24-08
Mets move ahead of Phils in NL East behind Perez, Delgado
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Carlos Delgado's two-run double in the eighth inning provided the winning margin, and the New York Mets moved into first place in the National League East with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the rubber match of a three-game set at Shea Stadium.
Oliver Perez allowed a run on six hits and struck out a season-high 12 in 7 2/3 innings but didn't factor in the decision for the Mets, who have won three of four and lead the Phils by one game in the East. Aaron Heilman (1-3) retired one batter to earn the win, while Billy Wagner notched his 26th save.
David Wright knocked in the other run for the Mets, who managed just four hits as a team.
J.C. Romero (4-3) pitched the eighth and took the loss for the Phillies, losers in four of their last five. The loss spoiled a brilliant performance by Jamie Moyer, who allowed a run on just two hits in seven frames, striking out six and walking three.
Jayson Werth's home run provided the scoring for the Phillies, while Eric Bruntlett went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles while starting in place of Jimmy Rollins, who was held out of the starting lineup with an undisclosed ailment. Rollins appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, grounding into a game- ending fielder's choice.
After Heilman escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth, the Mets forged ahead in their at-bat. Robinson Cancel led off with a pinch single, then moved to second on a Jose Reyes bunt. With two outs, Romero intentionally walked Wright, but Delgado made him pay by lacing a double down the line in left to plate both runners. Delgado was thrown out trying to reach third on the play, but the Mets held a 3-1 lead.
Wagner worked around Chris Coste's two-out single in the ninth for an eight- pitch save.
The Mets benefited from a pair of two-out walks from Moyer to take the lead in the third. Reyes and Nick Evans earned free passes, and Wright hooked a single to left to bring in Reyes.
Moyer settled down through seven innings, but the Phillies couldn't muster any offense against Perez until the top of the seventh, when Werth led off with a mammoth blast off the camera deck in straightaway center.
The Phillies threatened again in the eighth, as Bruntlett led of with a double and Perez loaded the bases with two outs after intentionally walking Pat Burrell and hitting Ryan Howard with a 3-2 slider. But, Heilman come on in relief and retired Werth on a fly ball to escape the jam.
Game Notes
Perez has allowed just one earned run and 17 hits in 26 innings over four starts against the Phillies this season. It was the 20th double-digit strikeout game of the lefty's career...The Phillies finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position...Phillies second baseman Chase Utley went 0-for-4 on Thursday and finished the series 0-for-12 with four strikeouts.
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