Randy Wolf (3-0) pitched just well enough over 5 innings to win and to give a lead to the bullpen to protect, Ryan Howard (45 HRs, 117 RBIs, .293 BA) homered and drove in 3 runs for the game and the bullpen allowed just 2 Mets to reach base over the final 4 innngs as the Phils won a tight one by a 4-3 score.

In winning, coupled with Cincinnati’s 4-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, the Phillies moved to within 1 1/2 games of the NL wild card lead.

The Phils opened the scoring in the 1st inning as 2nd baseman Chase Utley (22 HRs, 79 RBIs, .320 BA) singled in a run off of the Mets’ late replacement starter and losing pitcher Brian Bannister (2-1, 3.44 ERA).  1st baseman Ryan Howard followed by driving in a run with a sacrifice fly to rightfield.  The Phils led 2-0 after 1 inning.

In the 3rd inning, Howard blasted a 2 run homer off of Bannister to put the Phils up 4-0.  In the bottom half of the 3rd inning, the Mets got a run on centerfielder Carlos Beltran’s (37 HRs, 106 RBIs, .286 BA) double to leftfield.

In the 5th, Beltran drove in the other 2 Mets runs with a homer.  This closed the scoring for both teams.  

Wolf was pulled for bullpen relief in the 6th inning and Bannister likewise in the 7th.  The Phils bullpen shut down the Mets on 2 singles over the last 4 innings while the held the Phils to one base hit and a walk over the final 3 innings. For the Phillies, Ryan Madison (10-8, S2) got credited with his 2nd save as the Phils closer-by-committee continues while Tom Gordon (3-4, 3.28 ERA, S27) remains on the DL.   The Phillies bullpen has excelled without him compiling a 2.38 ERA over its last nine games.

For full recap including box scores and play-by-play on Friday’s game click here.

On Saturday, Jon Lieber (6-9), who is having a fine month of August including a complete game shutout the last time he faced the Mets, goes for the Phils vs Mets ace Tom Glavine (12-6) who lost in his last appearance against the Phils.

For full coverage of Saturday’s games in both leagues; previews, recaps, box scores and play-by-play coverage click here.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, August 26th, 2006 at 4:04 pm and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.