Phillies Drop Series Finale To Mets 7-4

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Nick Evans hit a three-run homer and drove in four, as the New York Mets avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 7-4 win.

David Wright went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI while Lucas Duda drove in a run and scored once for the Mets, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

Mike Pelfrey (7-10) got the win after giving up just three runs on nine hits, with two walks and two strikeouts, over six innings.

Shane Victorino drove in two while Chase Utley went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Phillies, who had won five of seven. Kyle Kendrick (7-6) gave up six runs — two earned — on seven hits in just four innings

The Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick to the hill today at 1:35pm as they look for a sweep of the New York Mets. Kendrick will be filling in for Cole Hamels, who was placed on the DL yesterday, and will face frequent Phils punching bag Mike Pelfrey. The 6-7 righty is winless against Philadelphia this year with a 7.58 ERA. He has not beaten the Phillies since September of last season and in his last outing against them on July 17th, he gave up four runs in five innings of work.

In his last two starts at Citizens Bank Park, Pelfrey has surrendered 10 runs in a total of six innings.

Ryan Howard will return to the lineup this afternoon after getting a day off last night. The Big Piece has been on fire for the past month with 8 HRs and 22 RBIs in his last 27 games. Lifetime against Pelfrey he’s hit .375 with 3 HRs.

Kyle Kendrick’s last appearance came in relief of Roy Oswalt after his start was cut short due to a rain delay. KK delivered six innings of two run ball and with a fairly rested bullpen, the Phils will be happy with that effort this afternoon.

Vance Worley struck a career high nine batters and threw seven innings of one run ball as the Phillies cruised to the second straight blowout win over the New York Mets 9-4 Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Worley looked like he would get off to a rough start allowing runners to reach 2nd and 3rd with none out in each of the first two innings, but he would strike out five of the six batters that would come up with runners in scoring position to get out of each jam. All five of those strikeouts were looking. Things got easier for the Vanimal as the night wore on as he racked up four more Ks and only gave up one more hit. Plus, he was 2-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Cliff Lee like!

This is the 12th straight game started by Worley that the Phillies have won, which according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is the longest streak for any team with any rookie in 25 years. 

The Phillies knocked around Mets start Jon Neise to the tune of 10 hits and 8 runs over just four innings. The damage started in the 3rd when Shane Victorino smacked a solo homer and John Mayberry crushed a pitch for a three run shot putting the Phils up 4-0. They would knock Neise out in the 4th when they loaded the bases with none out for Wilson Valdez and Vance Worley to both both drive in a run. Shane Victorino would then clear the bases with a triple, his 14th of the season, the second highest total in baseball.

The Mets added three extra runs in the late innings off Michael Stutes to close the gap to 9-4

The Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick to the hill against Mike Pelfrey tomorrow in a matinee at Citizens Bank Park as they look for a sweep of the Mets.

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – The Phillies scored 10 runs for Cliff Lee.

He only needed one.

Lee continued another one of his dominant streaks, striking out seven batters in seven shutout innings, and Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer and scored four times Monday in a 10-0 win over the Mets.

Lee (14-7) extended his personal winning streak to five starts and has given up just six runs in 38 2/3 innings during the span. He allowed just three hits and three walks to the Mets on Monday.

The left-hander also set a career-high with 191 strikeouts this season, beating his previous mark of 185 set last year with No. 186 in the third inning.

“I was throwing a lot of strikes early. Working ahead in the count,” said Lee.

John Mayberry also hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, while Placido Polanco went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in his return from the disabled list from a sports hernia.

The Phillies placed Jimmy Rollins on the 15-day disabled list with a mild Grade 2 right groin strain he suffered Sunday.

Mets rookie Dillon Gee (11-5) was lit up for eight runs on seven hits in just 3 2/3 innings and suffered only his second loss in the last seven starts.

Center fielder Angel Pagan, who was Lee’s 186th strikeout in the third, left the game with a stomach virus. Lucas Duda and Ruben Tejada had two hits apiece for the Mets, who have lost four straight and are just 2-10 in their last 12 games.

“There’s not much (left to say),” said Mets manager Terry Collins. "We’ve got to make sure to continue to prepare ourselves and play the game hard. If we ever get hot, times will change. Right now, we’re not hitting and we’re not pitching. That’s a bad combination.

The Phillies poured it on in the opener of this three-game series, starting with a three-run rally in the second inning that included an RBI single by Wilson Valdez and Shane Victorino’s two-run triple.

Mayberry belted his 11th homer in the third inning, scoring Pence after a walk, and he drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth that chased Gee from the game. Carlos Ruiz then greeted reliever Ryota Igarashi with a two-run single to make it 8-0.

Pence hit his 16th homer off Igarashi in the sixth inning, plating Ryan Howard after a single, for the final score. Lee hit a ball to the warning track in the seventh inning that was caught. David Herndon replaced him on the mound in the eighth and faced the minimum, getting double plays in both innings he pitched.

The Phillies are 9-4 against Mets this season…The Phillies are 5-4 since a 12-1 stretch…Lee has won 12 of his last 15 decisions…Both teams left seven runners on base…Collins, on having his pitchers watch Lee throw, said: “He knows what he’s doing. You’ve got to watch guys like that. You’ve got to pay attention to one of the great pitchers and how he handles success.”