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Mets hit 3 homers, beat Phillies for 2-game sweep

May 8, 2009 - 8:48 AM By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- David Wright has found his stroke, Francisco Rodriguez is saving games and the New York Mets are feeling much better after four straight wins over NL East foes.

Carlos Beltran and Wright each hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Thursday night thanks to an early power surge at expansive Citi Field.

Jose Reyes added a solo shot in the second off an ineffective Jamie Moyer as the Mets again gave Mike Pelfrey the offensive support Johan Santana has lacked all season.

"The atmosphere in the clubhouse has changed and I feel like we're getting a lot better," Pelfrey said.

Pelfrey (4-0) beat the rival Phillies for the second time this month, his only wins in 10 May decisions during his career. Ramon Castro had a two-run double, Wright went 3 for 3 with a walk and the Mets made Moyer look his age by turning their spacious new ballpark into a bandbox for one night.

Still, manager Jerry Manuel was infuriated with first-base umpire Bill Welke all evening. Manuel came out to argue three times with Welke - twice over calls that appeared as though they should have gone New York's way.

Manuel finally was ejected by Welke in the eighth following an obstruction call on Reyes that let Shane Victorino slip out of a rundown. Welke said Manuel "brushed" his hat with the bill of his cap as he screamed in the umpire's face, which could bring a punishment from the commissioner's office.

"We'll have to report on that," said crew chief Tim Welke, Bill's brother.

Later in the inning, Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer off Pedro Feliciano to cut it to 7-5.

Rodriguez saved his fourth game in four days, getting three outs to improve to 9 for 9 this season. With a runner on, he retired Jimmy Rollins on a popup to end it.

"You knew they got a guy who's a great closer," Victorino said. "But it doesn't change our approach. We feel we can come back against anybody."

The only other time K-Rod has pitched on four consecutive days was in September 2006 with the Angels.

"Trust me, it's fun," he said.

Werth had four hits and Ryan Howard homered over the 415-foot sign in right-center for the Phillies, swept in the two-game series during their first visit to Citi Field. Santana beat them 1-0 Wednesday night.

Howard also had an RBI double in the first before the Mets roughed up the 46-year-old Moyer (3-2), who was trying for his 250th win.

"I've been through this kind of thing before and I'll get through it again. Nothing is easy in this game, but I'm not going to panic," Moyer said.

The Mets (14-13) have scored 36 runs in Pelfrey's five starts and 12 in Santana's six outings.

"Baseball is crazy!" Reyes said, laughing.

Nationals 11, Dodgers 9=

At Los Angeles, Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn both had three RBIs, and Washington rallied for 10 runs over the final three innings to beat the Dodgers on the first day of Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension.

Josh Willingham homered for the Nationals, who had lost their previous 10 games at Dodger Stadium. Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, extending the longest hitting streak in the majors this season to 25 games.

Braves 4, Marlins 2=

At Miami, Jair Jurrjens gave up three hits in seven innings to help the Braves complete a two-game sweep.

Casey Kotchman homered and hit an RBI double for Atlanta. David Ross had a two-run homer.

Jurrjens (3-2) allowed two runs, both on homers by Hanley Ramirez.

Marlins right-hander Anibal Sanchez (1-4) allowed two homers and four runs in 4 2-3 innings before leaving the game because of discomfort in his pitching shoulder.

Florida extended a club-record streak of 20 consecutive games without a win by a starting pitcher. During that span the starters are 0-10.

Reds 6, Brewers 5=

At Cincinnati, Micah Owings pitched six innings and had a tiebreaking triple, leading the Reds' flu-depleted lineup.

The Reds needed everything they could get from Owings (2-3), their fifth starter and occasional pinch hitter. The lineup was missing two starters with the flu.

Owings' run-scoring triple off Braden Looper (2-2) helped him turn a 6-5 lead over to the bullpen. Francisco Cordero retired the three batters he faced in the ninth, remaining perfect in eight save chances.

Cardinals 5, Pirates 2=

At St. Louis, Todd Wellemeyer (3-2) threw seven innings of four-hit ball and Jason LaRue hit a go-ahead homer in the fifth for St. Louis.

St. Louis batted around in a four-run fifth that started with LaRue's first homer of the season. Ross Ohlendorf (3-3) was the loser.

Robinzon Diaz hit his first career homer for the Pirates, who have lost nine of 10.

Giants 8, Rockies 3=

At Denver, Bengie Molina homered twice and Matt Cain threw six innings of one-hit ball to lead San Francisco.

Molina was hitless in 12 career plate appearances against Jason Marquis (4-2) before lining a solo homer to left-center in the second and crushing a two-run shot to right the following inning.

Cain (3-1) fought his control early, walking four in the first two innings, then retired nine of his last 10.

Padres 4, Diamondbacks 3, 10 innings=

At San Diego, David Eckstein singled in the winning run with one out in the 10th inning for the Padres.

The Diamondbacks fired manager Bob Melvin later that night.

Cla Meredith (4-0) pitched a perfect 10th for the win.

Cubs 8, Astros 5=

At Houston, Alfonso Soriano homered twice to lead Chicago to a two-game sweep.

Ted Lilly (4-2) allowed four hits and two runs with five strikeouts in six innings for the Cubs.

Miguel Tejada had a two-run homer, two doubles and a single for the Astros, and Russ Ortiz (2-1) allowed six hits and three runs with three walks in 2 1-3 innings.