Mets Can Exhale...For Now

METS 6 PHILLIES 3

After dropping the first two games of their series against the Philadelphia Phillies the New York Mets needed to get a win in order to stave off any idea that another September collapse is possible in 2008.

Johan Santana gave the Mets exactly what they needed, a solid peformance against their arch-rival in the division. After giving up a run in the first inning, Santana settled down nicely and ended up pitching seven and a third innings of yoeman work, holding the Phillies to just two runs on five hits. Santana also had six strikeouts in the game.

Offensively, the Mets teed off on ace Cole Hamels, tagging him for five runs, four earned, in just five innings of work.

In the bottom of the first the Mets wasted no time in getting back into the game. Ryan Churchh singled to left with one out to give the Mets some hope. David Wright reached on a catchers intererence and fielding error by Phillie catcher Chris Coste. Finally, Carlos Beltran deliered a single to left to drive home Chruch and move Wright to third. Carlos Delgado then signled to center to drive in wright and Beltran, giving the Mets a 3-1 advantage.

That was all Santana needed as he mastered the Phillies the rest of the night. The Phillies managed only three hits off of Santana the rest of the night, and never had a chance to get back into the game.

Later in the game, Carlos Delgado really got into it, as he has all year. In the third, Delgado blasted a homerun to the scoreboard in right field to give New York a 4-2 lead. Finally in the fifth Delgado did it again, blasting a fastball to the mezzanine level in right field. 5-2 New York.

The win is the Mets 80th of the year, and they are now two games up on the Phillies for first in the NL East.