Delgado leads Mets past Phils, back into first place

Baseball Betting Lines

08/27/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Delgado hit a pair of home runs and drove in three, as the New York Mets rallied to beat Philadelphia, 6-3, and leapfrog the Phillies to retake the lead in the NL East.

In the first game of the series on Tuesday, Philadelphia came back from a seven-run deficit to win in 13 innings. On Wednesday, the Mets used a four-run eighth to earn a split in the two-game set and take a half-game lead in the division.

Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes each had three hits, while Brian Schneider had a key two-run single for the Mets, who have won two of three.

Johan Santana labored through six innings, and didn't factor into the decision after allowing three runs on five hits and three walks. He also struck out six. Brian Stokes (1-0) took the win after throwing a scoreless seventh, while Luis Ayala picked up his second save with a perfect ninth.

Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer and Jayson Werth added a solo shot for the Phillies, who had a five-game win streak snapped.

Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick gave up two runs on eight hits in five-plus innings, and took a no-decision. Rudy Seanez (5-4) gave up two runs in two- thirds of the eighth inning to take the loss, and Brad Lidge allowed two more runs in relief of Seanez.

The Mets trailed by one heading into the eighth inning, and Seanez started the frame off well by getting Luis Castillo to ground out and striking out David Wright.

But Delgado homered to left field to suddenly make it a tie game, at 3-3. It was Delgado's third homer in seven career at-bats versus Seanez.

Beltran then reached on an infield single, prompting Lidge to enter the game. After Beltran stole second, Lidge intentionally walked Ryan Church. That brought up Daniel Murphy, who doubled to right field to plate Beltran for a 4-3 New York lead.

With runners in scoring position, Schneider provided some cushion for the visitors by blooping a single just inside the third base line in shallow left field. Both runners scored to give the Mets a three-run edge.

Pedro Feliciano and Joe Smith combined to throw a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and Ayala got three consecutive groundouts in the ninth to seal the win.

The Mets had a lead in the first inning when Delgado singled home Reyes, who led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a groundout.

But Philadelphia took the lead in short order. In the home first, Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff single, and later stole second with two outs. Howard crushed a Santana offering beyond the left field fence for a 2-1 Phillies advantage. Werth's leadoff shot in the second also went to left field for a two-run lead.

Kendrick threw 90 pitches through five complete innings, and returned to the mound for the sixth. But he dealt Delgado, who led off, a low pitch, which the Mets first baseman smacked deep into the right field stands to bring New York within one.

Game Notes

The Mets left eight runners on base, while the Phillies stranded six...New York next travels to Florida for a three-game set with the Marlins, starting Friday...Philadelphia wrapped up a nine-game homestand with a 7-2 mark, and next goes to Chicago for four games with the Cubs, starting Thursday...On Wednesday the Phillies purchased the contract of pitcher Andrew Carpenter from Double-A Reading, and designated infielder Andy Tracy for assignment...Carpenter threw a scoreless inning of relief in his MLB debut...The Phillies also on Wednesday transferred pitcher Mike Zagurski to the 60-day disabled list.