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Delgado's hit lifts Mets into first place

Jul 24, 2008 - 8:03 PM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Jimmy Rollins was a bit tardy and Carlos Delgado had a clutch late-inning hit, putting the New York Mets alone atop the National League East.

Delgado delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning and Oliver Perez pitched 7 2/3 strong innings as the Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-1, Thursday, in the rubber contest of the three-game series.

Aaron Heilman pitched out of bases-loaded jam in the eighth for the Mets (55-47), who have won 14 of their last 17 games and moved into sole possession of first place for the first time since April 19.

New York rebounded to win the final two games in the series after a crushing 8-5 defeat on Monday, when it surrendered six runs in the ninth inning.

"I'm sure there were a lot of questions about whether we could play with them," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "We've proved that so far. We have to keep proving it."

Rollins arrived at the park about 11 a.m., an hour later than the reporting time, and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel kept the star shortstop and reigning National League Most Valuable Player out of the starting lineup. Earlier this year, Rollins was benched for not hustling to first base.

"Just a little too late," Rollins said. " We're not going to agree on this one. He's the manager. He held up the rules and that's fine."

Manuel was tight-lipped about the incident.

"Jimmy was late getting to the yard today," Manuel said. "Jimmy and I talked about it. That's all I'm going to say."

Rollins watched from the bench in the eighth when, with the score tied 1-1, pinch hitter Robinson Cancel singled off J.C. Romero (4-3) and went to second on a sacrifice by Jose Reyes. Endy Chavez lined back to the pitcher and David Wright was intentionally walked before the red-hot Delgado sliced a two-run double down the left-field line.

After a slow start this season, Delgado is hitting .397 this month with 16 RBI.

"I feel good," Delgado said. "I've got a lot of pride. I know I wasn't happy with the way things were going and I worked my (butt) off."

The game unfolded as a pitcher's duel between Perez and Phillies veteran Jamie Moyer.

Perez allowed just one run with 12 strikeouts, the 20th double-digit strikeout game of his career and first since last August 29 against the Phillies.

The lefthander departed after hitting Ryan Howard with a pitch to load the bases with two outs in the eighth. Heilman (1-3) ended the rally by retiring Jayson Werth on a fly ball to center field.

Billy Wagner worked the ninth for his 26th save of the season and 100th as a Met. Rollins grounded out as a pinch hitter to end the game.

In four starts against the Phillies this season, Perez has allowed one run in 26 innings, but he has just one victory to show for it. On Thursday, he scattered six hits.

"When I face a team, I like to look at them as the best team in baseball,'" Perez said. "When I take the ball, I like to think that I'm the best pitcher."

One of the hits he allowed Thursday was a leadoff homer in the seventh to Jayson Werth, a 430-foot blast to center field. It snapped Perez's streak of 24 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings against Philadelphia.

Moyer was just as good over seven innings, allowing only one run and two hits with three walks and six strikeouts. The 45-year-old lefthander has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his last nine starts.

The Phillies had at least a share of first place for the last 53 days.

"We played good ball," Rollins said. "We haven't gotten runners in scoring position. They're just as good as they were last year. It's not that much different. We're right there, man."

The Mets opened the scoring in the third when Moyer walked Reyes and Nick Evans with two outs and David Wright lined an RBI single to left field.