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Glavine moves within eight wins of 300 as Mets beat Phillies

Apr 13, 2007 - 4:05 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- On a night when the game-time temperature was 44 degrees, Tom Glavine won the historic battle of 40-something lefthanders.

Glavine overcame a shaky start to pitch six effective innings and outpitch Jamie Moyer as the New York Mets won the rubber game of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-3.

Glavine (2-1) walked three batters in the first inning and allowed a pair of home runs to Jimmy Rollins, but settled down to record his 292nd career victory.

The game matched the oldest combined age of any opposing starting lefthanders in major league history. Moyer (44) and Glavine (41) are a combined 85 years, 163 days.

"There is something to be said for our style of pitching that has allowed us to pitch as long as we have," Glavine said. "Jamie and I haven't had to change our style much. We're location guys. I'm glad to be a part of it."

The previous mark of 83 years, 299 days was set by Tommy John of the New York Yankees and Jerry Reuss of the Chicago White Sox in 1988. It also marked the first time two lefthander starters each with over 500 career starts faced each other.

Some of the support for Glavine fittingly came from 40-year-old Moises Alou, who had three hits, including an RBI single. Jose Reyes delivered a key two-run single and David Wright tripled to extend his hitting streak to 21 games.

Glavine worked his way through the cold and was charged with three runs and four hits.

"Sometimes it's a matter of getting in a rhythm," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Everyone is dealing with the elements. I attribute it to him getting comfortable."

Joe Smith pitched the seventh, Scott Schoeneweis the eighth and Billy Wagner worked around a one-out double to Ryan Howard in the ninth to record his second save of the season and 326th of his career, moving him into a tie for 10th all-time with Roberto Hernandez.

Moyer (1-1) also went six innings, allowing four runs - three earned - and seven hits. He earned his 2,000th career strikeout when he fanned Alou in the fifth.

"I pitched myself into some jams," Moyer said. "I probably deserved what I got."

Rollins led off the game with a home run to left field, the fifth of his career against Glavine, his most against any pitcher. Rollins led off a game with a homer for the 18th time, extending his franchise record.

Aaron Rowand singled in the second and later scored on a two-run blast by Rollins to give the Phils a 3-1 lead. It was his fourth career multi-homer game and first since August 12 of last season against Cincinnati.

Rollins has been the target of Mets' fans all series for his offseason comments that the Phillies were the team to beat.

"Nothing has changed, we're still trying to get our feet under us," said Rollins, who had no problems with the taunts by fans. "I love it. They give you energy whether they realize it or not."

His error led a seven-run eighth inning for the Mets in Monday's 11-5 victory.

Moyer allowed a run in the first on three straight singles by Reyes, Lo Duca and Carlos Beltran. A throwing error by third baseman Wes Helms allowed the Mets to score a run in the second.

The Mets took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a double by Alou, a walk to Damion Easley and a two-out, two-run single by Reyes.

"That's part of my game too," said Reyes, known more for his base stealing and triples than for driving in runs.

Wright tripled in the seventh and scored on a single by Alou.