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Blast by Reyes pushes Mets to victory

Jul 24, 2008 - 3:34 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Jose Reyes and John Maine, along with a bounce-back effort from the bullpen, ensured that the taste of a painful defeat did not linger for the New York Mets.

Reyes belted a three-run homer to snap a sixth-inning tie and Maine pitched seven strong frames as the Mets moved back into a first-place tie in the National League East Division with a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

The Phillies overcame a three-run deficit with six runs in the ninth inning to stun the Mets, 8-6, in the opener of the three-game series on Tuesday. New York was without Billy Wagner in that one due to spasms in his left shoulder, and four relievers were unable to hold a three-run lead.

"This team has grown up a lot," Wagner said. "Last night was a game we should have won. We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves."

The All-Star closer returned Wednesday against his former team and retired the side in order in the ninth inning for his 25th save in 31 chances.

"Our closer is back," Reyes said. "He made it look easy."

Wagner's effort came after Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith combined to pitch a scoreless eighth.

The Mets (54-47), who have won 12 of their last 15 games, climbed back into a first-place tie with the Phillies (54-47) in the division for the third time in a week.

Shane Victorino and Geoff Jenkins hit back-to-back homers in the second inning for Philadelphia, which has lost eight of 12 meetings with New York this season.

With the game even at 3-3, Damion Easley and Brian Schneider singled to open the sixth. One out later, Reyes belted the first pitch he saw from Ryan Madson (2-1) over the right field wall for his 11th homer and a 6-3 lead.

The blast made a winner of Maine (9-7), who allowed three runs and six hits with two walks and five strikeouts en route to his first victory in five starts. The righthander improved to 5-0 lifetime against Philadelphia.

"I wouldn't say he had our number, but that's the way the ball rolls," Victorino said.

Maine, who has struggled with high pitch counts, threw a respectable 104 in seven innings.

"The whole team needed a big effort from me," he said. "I hope it carries over."

Brett Myers lasted five innings in his return to the Phillies' rotation, allowing three runs and five hits with five walks and two strikeouts.

"I liked his stuff," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I liked that he was aggressive. (But) he was fighting his command."

The righthander, who was making his first start since June 27, recently was recalled from a three-week stint in the minors in which he worked on his mechanics - as well as his confidence - after winning just once in his previous 13 starts.

The Mets scored two runs without a hit in the first as Myers could not find the plate. With one out, he walked four straight batters, including Carlos Beltran to force in a run.

"I felt like if the first inning didn't go that way, we would have won the game," Myers said.

Beltran batted fifth in a lineup, marking the first time he was that low in the order since 2003 while with the Kansas City Royals.

Former Phillie Marlon Anderson drove in the Mets' second run of the opening inning with a groundout.

Victorino and Jenkins hit back-to-back, two-out homers in the second to tie the game at 2-2. But Myers' controls problems continued in the third, when he walked and hit a batter, leading to an RBI infield single by Easley.

Jimmy Rollins delivered an RBI double in the fifth to tie it at 3-3.