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Utley, Phillies defeat Mets in extra innings

Jun 6, 2007 - 5:14 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Chase Utley wanted to make sure the Philadelphia Phillies fell no farther behind in the National League East.

Utley belted a leadoff home run in the top of the 11th inning as the Phillies rallied to beat the New York Mets, 4-2, on Tuesday.

Utley, who had three hits and drove in three runs, helped Philadelphia (29-29) reach the .500 mark while closing within seven games of division-leading New York.

"He is something very special," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He is what I call 'a player.'" I used to call Kirby Puckett my favorite player. Chase is getting there."

It was the first home run by a lefthanded batter off lefthander Pedro Feliciano since Ryan Howard connected on August 4 of last season.

"He's a tough hitter, this time he got me," Feliciano said. "I threw a sinker up and he made a good swing."

With the score tied at 2-2, Utley led off the 11th by hitting an 0-1 pitch from reliever Feliciano (1-1) over the left field fence for his 11th homer of the season.

"Feliciano is really tough against lefties," Utley said. "You just hope that he puts a pitch in the zone and you don't miss it."

After the Phillies loaded the bases later in the frame, Abraham Nunez broke an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single to left to make it 4-2.

Geoff Geary (1-0), the second Philadelphia reliever, pitched the 10th to earn his first victory and Antonio Alfonseca pitched around a two-out single by pinch hitter Julio Franco in the 11th for his second save in three opportunities.

Alfonseca capped a big night for the Phillies' bullpen, which combined for four scoreless innings in relief of Jamie Moyer.

"That's what we're supposed to do, shut them down," said Ryan Madson, who pitched two scoreless frames.

The first seven innings were a pitchers' duel between veteran lefthanders Moyer and Tom Glavine of the Mets. The only scoring in that span were two-run singles by New York's Paul Lo Duca in the second and Utley in the third.

Moyer allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings with two walks and one strikeout. He also picked Jose Reyes, the major league leader in steals, off second base in the seventh inning.

"If I tell you (how), I'll have to kill you," Moyer said with a smile.

"He got me this time," Reyes admitted.

Glavine remained at 295 career victories for the third straight outing despite seven strong innings. Like Moyer, he allowed two runs and eight hits. Glavine walked one and struck out four.

"It's hard to go out there and pitch well and not see results," Glavine said. "I don't know how to say it any other way. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't."

Carlos Delgado walked and David Wright doubled to left-center field off Moyer in the second before both runners scored on a single to center by Lo Duca.

The Phillies responded with two runs in the top of the third, beginning with a two-out infield single by Jimmy Rollins. Shane Victorino doubled and Utley lined a two-run single to right field.

The Mets had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but Moyer got Carlos Beltran to pop out and Delgado to fly out. Beltran, who was back in the lineup after missing three games with a bruised knee, flied out to the warning track with two runners on to end the seventh.

A baserunning miscue kept the Phillies from taking the lead in the sixth. With runners on first and second with one out, Aaron Rowand lined a hard single to right field. Utley was held up by third base coach Steve Smith but could have scored as the throw by outfielder Carlos Gomez was up the line.

As Utley retreated, Pat Burrell headed to third before getting caught in a rundown for the second out. Nunez grounded out to end the inning.

"I've never seen a guy slide into third base twice on the same play," Utley said of Burrell's adventure on the basepaths.

Glavine had allowed a first-inning run in each of his last four starts, but retired the side in order on just nine pitches in this one.