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Howard shines, Phils blow lead but rebound to outslug Mets

Apr 7, 2011 - 6:22 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard went 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a home run and two RBI, as the Philadelphia Phillies outlasted the New York Mets, 10-7, in the middle test of a three-game series.

Neither starter made it out of the fifth inning in a game that featured 28 combined hits. The Mets rallied to tie things after trailing 7-0, but Placido Polanco hit a go-ahead single in the fifth to highlight a three-hit, three-RBI performance.

Ben Francisco added a solo home run in the victory, which was credited to Antonio Bastardo (1-0), who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames.

Angel Pagan belted a two-run homer for the Mets, who took Tuesday's opener between the National League East rivals, 7-1.

New York chased Cole Hamels in the third inning on Tuesday, and the Phillies returned the favor against Mike Pelfrey, who was pulled after surrendering seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits in two-plus frames.

Polanco and Raul Ibanez each drove in a run in the first inning, and Shane Victorino chased home another in the second.

Howard started a four-run third with homer to straightaway center, and Pelfrey exited after putting the next three hitters on base.

Taylor Buchholz entered from the bullpen, and Joe Blanton, the Phillies' starter, bounced a single down the third-base line to bring in a pair. Polanco's base hit to center made it 7-0.

But Blanton failed to maintain the comfortable lead.

Pagan crushed a two-run shot to left-center in the fourth, and Blanton put seven straight hitters on base in the fifth before Bastardo took over.

David Wright and Carlos Beltran hit consecutive run-scoring singles, and Ike Davis brought both home with a double to right. Bastardo entered and yielded a pinch-hit single to Daniel Murphy, tying the game 7-7.

The Phillies responded with a two-out rally off Blaine Boyer (0-1) in their half. Victorino doubled to left, and Polanco followed with a bloop to right. Beltran nearly came up with a diving grab on the latter, but the ball came out, allowing Victorino to score.

After Jimmy Rollins worked a work, Howard hit a liner off Boyer's glove. Polanco never stopped running and scored from second for a 9-7 advantage.

Francisco led off the sixth with his second long ball of the season, and the Phillies' bullpen took over from there.

J.C. Romero faced the minimum in the seventh, Ryan Madson retired the side in the eighth, and Jose Contreras, filling in for injured closer Brad Lidge, worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to record his first save of the season.

Game Notes

Blanton, in his first start of the season, was charged with seven runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two...Pelfrey allowed five runs and four hits with four walks in 4 1/3 frames in an Opening Day loss to the Marlins. His ERA is 15.63...Pete Orr had two hits and two runs scored for the Phillies, who went 7-for-18 with runners in scoring position...Davis, Jose Reyes and Brad Emaus each had two hits for the Mets.