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Howard and Phillies look to move closer to first-place Mets

Aug 29, 2007 - 2:24 PM NY Mets (73-58) at Philadelphia (69-62) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Do not count the Philadelphia Phillies out of the National League East race just yet. Ryan Howard and the Phillies will try to gain more ground on the New York Mets on Wednesday.

Howard hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the 10th inning for a 4-2 win on Tuesday that pulled the Phillies (69-62) within four games of the first-place Mets (73-58).

Along with taking the first two games of their four-game showdown with New York, Philadelphia is getting healthy as well. All-Star second baseman Chase Utley returned in Monday's win and Adam Eaton threw 5 2/3 solid innings in his comeback on Tuesday.

Jamie Moyer (11-10, 5.16 ERA) hopes some of the positive momentum can rub off on him. The 44-year-old lefthander has struggled in his last two starts, giving up 16 runs and 19 hits over 8 2/3 innings. Moyer was pounded for eight runs - six earned - and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 14-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday.

Moyer, who held the Mets to two runs and eight hits in seven innings of a no-decision on June 5, is 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA in 12 career starts against New York.

Oliver Perez (12-8, 3.34) takes the hill for the Mets, who will look to avoid their fourth straight loss.

The 25-year-old Perez is coming off his best start of the second half. On Friday, the lefthander allowed just three hits with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings of a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In his only start against the Phillies this season on April 11, Perez lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and a hit with a career-high seven walks.