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Phils SS Rollins serenaded after error; Mets win home opener

Apr 9, 2007 - 10:02 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Jimmy Rollins proclaimed that the Philadelphia Phillies were "the team to beat" in the National League East. But the All-Star shortstop committed an error that helped open the floodgates to a seven-run eighth inning.

After Rollins booted a grounder that allowed the tying run to score, Geoff Geary threw a wild pitch that plated Jose Valentin with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning uprising as the New York Mets posted an 11-5 victory over Philadelphia in their home opener.

Jon Lieber, who was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, then yielded a sacrifice fly to Carlos Beltran, a two-run double off the left field wall by David Wright and a two-run single by Moises Alou in the eighth.

As the inning continued, the sellout crowd at Shea Stadium serenaded the Phillies shortstop with chants of "Jimmy Rollins, Jimmy Rollins."

"It's a tough place to come in here and play," Wright said. "The fans will let you have it."

The Mets are the defending National League East champions after tying for the major league lead with 97 wins. The Phillies finished in second in the division, 12 games behind the Mets.

Yet that didn't stop Rollins from saying the Phillies were "the team to beat" during spring training, a belief he has not wavered on.

"Yes," said Rollins when asked if the Phillies, who are now 1-6, still hold that lofty status. "Our record doesn't show it. There are times when you are up and times when you are down. I said what I said."

In the offseason, Philadelphia added starters Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton. However, the bullpen remains a weakness and was unable to hold a 5-3 lead on Monday.

Ryan Howard, the reigning NL MVP, staked them to that advantage with a three-run homer off reliever Ambiorix Burgos in the sixth inning. It was Howard's first home run of the season after he hit 58 last year. It also came after Mets manager Willie Randolph decided to pitch to the slugger with two outs and first base open.

"Why not, he's hitting .200," Randolph said. "(On deck hitter) Pat Burrell is a Mets killer. I trust Burgos in that spot. Aaron Heilman wasn't available and I didn't want to burn another pitcher in that spot."

The Mets pulled within 5-4 on a two-out, RBI single by Carlos Delgado off reliever Matt Smith in the seventh inning. A sliding catch by right fielder Shane Victorino on a sinking liner by Wright ended the inning and prevented the tying run from scoring.

But the Mets erupted in the eighth, with the help of Rollins' error. Alou and Shawn Green started the inning with back-to-back singles against Geary (0-1). After Valentin failed to bunt the runners over, Geary walked pinch hitter Julio Franco on four pitches.

Jose Reyes then hit a grounder to Rollins, who probably had little chance to complete a double play. But Rollins was unable to even get a forceout at second as the ball bounced off the heel of the glove and Green scored the tying run.

The fans at Shea serenaded Rollins by chanting his name after the error.

"Sometimes you bring things on yourself. I should know," Mets reliever and former teammate Billy Wagner said. "I know Jimmy Rollins. He'll put this behind him. He's a clutch player."

Geary appeared to be unnerved by the error and threw a 2-0 pitch to Paul Lo Duca that sailed over the head of catcher Carlos Ruiz, allowing Valentin to score the go-ahead run.

"It is what it is," Geary said. "I'm not trying to throw the ball 10 feet over his head."

After walking Lo Duca to load the bases again, Geary was replaced by Lieber. Making his first appearance of the season, Lieber yielded Beltran's sacrifice fly to center.

Wright extended his hitting streak to 19 games, dating to last season, with a two-run double off the left field wall. Alou, who started the inning with a single, capped it with a two-run hit.

Pedro Feliciano (1-0) pitched a hitless inning to pick up the win. Delgado had three hits for the Mets and scored on a head-first slide on a two-run single by Valentin in the fourth. Delgado also had a rare bunt single in the second inning as the Phillies played a shift with an extra infielder on the right side.

"First one in 13 years," Delgado said. "I just tried to push one by the pitcher." Chase Utley of the Phillies drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and homered off John Maine in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2.

Maine labored through 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, five hits and a career-high six walks.

Phillies starter Cole Hamels allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.