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Mets hold off Phillies' comeback attempt

Aug 9, 2014 - 6:16 AM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Bartolo Colon tossed eight strong innings en route to his 200th career victory as the New York Mets held on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, in the opener of a four-game set.

Colon (11-9) only gave up one run on six hits while fanning six and walking none in the Mets' fourth straight win at Citizens Bank Park.

"He hits his spots," said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg. "He pitches it on the corners, he changes speed and it's a hard thing for our hitters to gauge."

Juan Lagares started a four-run fourth inning for the Mets with an RBI double and Travis d'Arnaud added a solo home run an inning later.

A.J. Burnett (6-12) was reached for five runs on 11 hits in his six innings of work. He did manage to strike out eight, but gave up six hits in the fourth as the Phillies had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Burnett has lost his last four decisions.

Grady Sizemore doubled in two runs for Philadelphia with the bases loaded in the ninth, but the Phillies couldn't repeat Thursday's eighth-inning magic against Houston, falling one run short in this comeback attempt.

The Mets were first on the board with four runs in the fourth. After d'Arnaud and Kirk Nieuwenhuis started the frame with back-to-back singles, Lagares followed with a fly ball to right-center field for a double that scored Nieuwenhuis and moved Lagares to third. A Wilmer Flores single then increased the lead to 2-0.

Colon struck out on a foul bunt, but Curtis Granderson sent Lagares home with a line drive to right that dropped in for a single. Daniel Murphy then hit a ground ball down the first-base line that tipped off of Ryan Howard's glove as he tried to make a diving play, scoring Flores.

The Mets went up 5-0 on d'Arnaud's homer to left-center.

Marlon Byrd sent the first pitch he saw from Colon in the seventh into the seats in left for a leadoff homer and the Phillies' first run.

Dana Eveland replaced Colon on the mound to start the ninth, but gave up a double to Chase Utley and walked Howard before being removed. Jenrry Mejia took over pitching duties, but gave up a single to Byrd to load the bases before Sizemore smacked a double off the wall in right field to score Utley and Howard.

Carlos Ruiz then lofted one into shallow right field, but Granderson made a sliding catch to save a run.

"It saved us," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Granderson's catch.

With runners on second and third, Cody Asche grounded out to push Byrd across and send Sizemore to third. Mejia struck out pinch-hitter Reid Brignac to end the game, however, and earn his 17th save of the season.

Game Notes

Eveland was charged with two runs on one hit for his appearance in the ninth ... Mejia was charged with one run on two hits ... Colon went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, two of which came on foul bunts ... Philadelphia failed to put a runner in scoring position until the ninth inning .. The Phillies are 1-10 over their last 11 home games against the Mets dating back to June 23, 2013 ... Former Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.