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Phillies rally to beat Mets in Shea opener

Apr 8, 2008 - 9:52 PM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The "Team to Beat" in the National League East Division rallied to beat the New York Mets once again.

Jayson Werth's RBI single capped a three-run seventh inning aided by first baseman Carlos Delgado's error as the Phillies rallied for a 5-2 victory Tuesday in the Mets' 45th and final home opener at Shea Stadium.

Chase Utley had an RBI double and was hit with a pitch three times for Philadelphia, which defeated the Mets for the ninth straight time. The eight wins at the end of last season contributed to New York's monumental 2007 collapse that led to Philadelphia capturing the NL East.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel would not say if the Phillies were getting in the Mets' heads, but he liked the results.

"I don't know," Manuel said. I know this. I hope we beat them 10 and keep it going. We got a break and took advantage of it."

The Phillies defeated the Mets 12 times last season, and New York had a lead in nine of those contests.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who had an RBI single in a two-run eighth, boldly predicted before last season that the Mets were the "team to beat" in the East - and Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran made similar claims earlier this year.

If the Phils' success is getting to the Mets' psyche, Rollins wasn't saying.

"That's a question for them," Rollins said. "We play good in the late innings no matter who is the opponent."

Rollins left the game in the bottom of the eighth with a left ankle sprain. He said he felt "fine" afterwards and will not know his availability for Wednesday's game until then.

Round One of this year's season series went to the Phillies, who received six effective innings from Jamie Moyer (1-0) before three relievers each pitched an inning.

Moyer allowed two runs and four hits, including a second-inning home run to Delgado in the second. The 45-year-old Moyer is one of just two current players who were alive when Shea Stadium opened.

"I've done this for a fair amount of time," Moyer said. "This wasn't different than any other day.

The Mets played their final home opener at Shea Stadium - their home since 1964 - and will move into brand new Citi Field in 2009.

Philadelphia's rally spoiled the party and the Shea crowd booed the Mets, who have lost three in a row.

"It's one straight loss (to the Phils) in 2008," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "2007 is over with. This is a new team. The last three games were a gauge for us and we failed the test."

The Mets wasted 5 2/3 scoreless innings by New York's Oliver Perez, who has not allowed a run in 11 2/3 innings this season.

Scott Schoeneweis (0-1) allowed one-out singles to Rollins and Shane Victorino and hit Utley with a pitch to load the bases in the seventh.

Ryan Howard hit a ground ball to Delgado, whose throw to second base hit Utley in the back and bounced away as two runs scored to tie it at 2-2.

"He took a good slide and went to the outside. I tried to clear a lane and thought I had it," Delgado said. "That's my play. I'm going to take it 100 times."

One out later, Werth grounded a run-scoring single to right field off Jorge Sosa to put the Phillies in front to stay.

Rollins had an RBI single and Utley and RBI double in a two-run eighth.

Mets second baseman Luis Castillo left the game after four innings with right knee soreness. He had surgery on the knee this past offseason.

Chad Durbin pitched the seventh and J.C. Romero worked the eighth before Tom Gordon pitched the ninth for his first save.

Utley was the first batter to be hit three times in an inning since Nomar Garciaparra of the Dodgers on July 3, 2006.

"If anyone would get three times in a game, I thought it would be me," Rollins joked.

Victorino, the Phils' center fielder. made a running catch on a fly ball by Wright to lead off the fourth, colliding with right fielder Werth while holding onto the ball.