Centerfielder Carlos Beltran (38 HRs, 108 RBIs, .286 BA) put the Mets up early with a 2 run homer off of Jon Lieber (6-9) in the first inning.  The Phils went ahead with 5 runs in the 5th inning featuring a grand slam by 1st baseman  Ryan Howard’s (46 HRs, 121 RBIs, .292 BA), but a 7 run Mets 7th inning laid waste to Howard’s blast and the Phillies lead as the Mets came out on the winning end by an 11-5 score.

 Phils centerfielder Shane Victorino (6 HRs, 36 RBIs, .279 BA) singled in a run in the 5th inning followed by Howard’s grand slam homer on an 0-2 pitch, all of which came off of Mets late replacement starter lefthander Oliver Perez (2-10). The Phils scored 5 runs on 2 hits in the 5th as Perez issued 2 of his 5 walks for the game and hit a batsman.  5-2 Phillies.

Mets’ starter Perez was relieved by lefthanded reliever  Darren Oliver (4-1, 2.84 ERA) in the 6th.  Oliver gave up just 1 hit to the Phils.

In the Mets’ 6th, they narrowed things as 1st baseman Carlos Delgado (33 HRs, 91 RBIs, .262 BA) blasted a 2 run homer.    In the 7th inning, the parade of lefthanders facing the Phils continued as reliever and winning pitcher Pedro Feliciano (6-2, 1.92) retired the side allowing the Phils just 1 hit.

All of this set the stage for for the dramatic 7th inning Mets rally which was to be the game winner.

Phils starter Lieber, who gave up 4 runs on 10 hits and walking 2 in 6 innings besides surrendering the 2 homers, was relieved by Rick White (2-1).   White failed to get anyone out and was charged with giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and a hit batsman as well as being charged with the loss.  White was relieved by Aaron Fultz (3-0) who got Delgado to sacrifice fly out to centerfield scoring a run.  Then, after 3rd baseman David Wright (22 HRs, 91 RBIs, .294 BA) was intentionally walked, newly acquired rightfielder Shawn Green (11 HRs, 54 RBIs, .283) doubled to rightfield scoring 2 runs.  Then, leftfielder Endy Chavez (3 HRs, 33 RBIs, .307 BA) doubled scoring 2 more runs.    Chris Woodward (3 HRs, 21 RBIs), pinch hitting for reliever Feliciano, capped the scoring witha 2 run single.

Newly acquired Phils reliever Matt Smith (0-0) pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning.  Smith, recently acquired from the Yankees in the Abreu, Lidle trade, has yet to give up a run in 13 appearances this season.   Mets’ reliever Guillermo Mota (1-3) retired the last 6 Phillies in a row to cement the win.

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

The Phils hope to win the getaway game on Sunday to win 2 of 3 from the Mets. Newly acquired veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer (7-12) goes for the Phils vs John Maine (3-3, 3.58 ERA) for the Mets.

For full coverage of Sunday’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 Sunday, August 27th, 2006 at 7:00 am 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.