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Valdespin lifts Mets over Phillies

May 8, 2012 - 7:48 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's not likely Jordany Valdespin would have forgotten his first major league hit anyway.

Now there's no chance.

Valdespin, called up from the minors before the game, hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Monday night to lift the New York Mets to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series.

The 24-year-old's first MLB hit came off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon and capped a Mets comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the last four innings.

"To come back against Roy (Halladay) and tie the game up, then to finish the game with two guys that weren't even in the game with huge hits, great win for us," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Roy Halladay struck out seven in seven innings for the Philles, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk, but remained winless in his last four starts as the Phillies opened an eight-game homestand.

The Mets have won three of four games against the Phillies this season.

Valdespin was an unlikely hero after coming up from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday when shortstop Ruben Tejada was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right quad.

He had six at-bats in seven previous games this season but no hits until his go-ahead blast into the right field seats off Papelbon with two outs.

Papelbon (0-1) hadn't pitched since last Tuesday in Atlanta. He struck out two batters but gave up a walk to Ike Davis and a double off the left field wall to Mike Nickeas and took his first decision of any kind in a Phillies uniform.

"He might have been a little rusty," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

Halladay had only one tough inning -- New York's two-run sixth -- coming off a bad outing last week in Atlanta, when he was knocked around for eight runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 frames.

Mets starter Jon Niese, who beat the Phillies last month, threw 101 pitches in five innings and gave up two runs but didn't factor in the decision after the Mets tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth.

Tim Byrdak (1-0) got one out in the eighth inning to earn the win and Frank Francisco pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

The Phillies coughed up a 2-0 lead on the same day they learned left-hander Cole Hamels was suspended five games for throwing at Nationals rookie Bryce Harper during Sunday night's game.

The penalties came after Hamels admitted to hitting Harper in the back with a pitch in the first inning of a 9-3 win.

Monday, Jimmy Rollins got to third base on a double when Mets center fielder Andres Torres mishandled the ball for an error and scored on John Mayberry's fly out to make it 1-0 after just two batters.

The Phillies took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after Carlos Ruiz led off with a walk and beat Torres' throw home on Shane Victorino's double off the left-center field wall.

Halladay gave up just one hit through 5 2/3 innings but surrendered a pair with two outs in the sixth, including David Wright's two-run double over the bag at third base. The ball kicked off the stands and into shallow left field, allowing Torres and Kirk Nieuwenhuis to score.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the seventh inning but reliever Bobby Parnell escaped the jam when Victorino was called for interference for a wide slide at second base to break up a double play ball hit by Hunter Pence.

Pence beat Justin Turner's throw, but both outs were recorded for the slide several feet behind second base by Victorino to disrupt the Mets shortstop.

Antonio Bastardo relieved Halladay in the seventh and got out of trouble with runners at first and second when Placido Polanco stepped on third to start an inning-ending double play off Lucas Duda's bat.

The pattern continued in the eighth when the Phillies came away with nothing after having runners at second and third with one out. Two key plays in the inning broke once for each team: Ruiz reached on a bunt when Parnell slipped, and Ty Wigginton was thrown out at home on a ground ball.

Mets catcher Josh Thole left the game after a taking a shoulder to the jaw from Wigginton in a plate collision. Nickeas came in to replace him behind the plate.

Game Notes

The Phillies started a stretch where they will play 14 of 16 games at home, including eight in a row to start. They were coming off a 3-3 road trip...The Mets, who have won three in a row, opened a six-game road trip.