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Phillies rally late to down Mets

May 29, 2011 - 4:50 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard's two-run double in the eighth proved to be the deciding factor as the Philadelphia Phillies took a 5-2 win over the New York Mets in the second of a three-game set from Citi Field.

Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Domonic Brown added two hits and a run scored for the Phillies, who have won four straight.

Cole Hamels (7-2) snapped a five-game losing streak to the Mets as he gave up two runs and seven hits with 10 strikeouts and retired the final 11 batters he faced over a seven-inning performance. He moved to 4-0 on the road this season.

"Going out there and knowing I already gave up some runs was tough," said Hamels. "But I knew if I just kept making pitches the guys would back me up and it worked out."

Jose Reyes had two hits, a pair of stolen bases and two runs scored while Justin Turner and Jason Bay each drove in a run for the Mets, who have dropped three straight and six of seven.

Mike Pelfrey was solid in the start as he yielded just two runs on four hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, but for the second night in a row the Mets' bullpen blew the game.

Pelfrey got the first two outs of the eighth inning, but then gave up a single to Jimmy Rollins and was replaced by Mike O'Connor (0-1), who allowed Rollins to steal second then served up a single to Utley that tied the game.

Jason Isringhausen stepped on to the hill next and walked Polanco before Tim Byrdak gave up a two-run double to Howard to give the Phillies a 4-2 lead.

"I feel like I let Mike (Pelfrey) down and I let the whole team down," said O'Connor. "He pitched great and for me to go out there and blow the whole game on four pitches stinks for me, I feel terrible."

Jose Contreras set the Mets down in order in the eighth and Ben Francisco doubled home Brown in the ninth to give Philly an extra run.

Ryan Madson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save of the season.

The Mets worked a run across in the first when Reyes led off with a double, promptly stole third and then came home on a Turner single for a 1-0 lead.

The third inning saw New York take a 2-0 lead thanks to the feet of Reyes. He led off the inning with a single and stole second. A Carlos Beltran fly out saw Reyes advance to third and Bay then singled him home.

The Phillies got one back in the fourth as Utley led off with a bloop double to shallow left and came home three batters later on a Raul Ibanez double down the right field line to make it a 2-1 contest.

Game Notes

Hamels improved to 3-9 against the Mets over 15 career games...The Phils have won six of eight against the Mets this season...Vance Worley makes the start for the Phils on Sunday while Jon Niese will take the hill for New York...Howard leads the Phillies with 40 RBI.