Citi Field Becomes Home Run Paradise, Mets Win Big Game

METS 6

PHILLIES 5

Citi Field is supposed to be a pitcher's park; right? Well, not tonight. The stadium that has drawn a lot of complaints because of the depth of center field, right center and right center, was home to seven home runs on the night between the Mets and Phillies.

The home run party started in the second inning when David Wright broke his long string of homerless games by blasting his fourth of the year just over the 16 foot wall in left to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Then, in the third, Carlos Beltran belted a two run shot to infamous right center field fence to give the Metroplitans a 3-0 lead.

Usually a 3-0 lead is more than enough for Johan Santana, but not tonight. After serving up three scoreless innings, Santana got bombed by the powerful Phillies lineup. Ryan Howard led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to the bullpens in right center to cut the Mets lead to 3-1. Raul Ibanez followed with solo homer of his own to right, just above the Modell's sign to cut the Mets lead to one run, 3-2.

In the sixth, Jimmy Rollins blasted a two run shot to left to give the Phillies a stunning 4-3 lead. The Phillies are second in the NL in come-back victories with 18, so it should come as no surprise that the Phils could do this. What was shocking: the fact that Santana never had it. He struck out only two batters and gave up four home runs, the most he has given up in a game in two years.

Still, Santana found a way to play hero ... with his bat. With Ryan Church and Omir Santos already on base, the Phillies expected Santana to bunt with only one out. Santana showed bunt, but pulled the bat back, swung, hit, and drove the ball down the right field line, moving Church home to tie the game at four. Two batters later, Alex Cora singled up the middle to drive in Santos with the go-ahead run.

The Mets got some insurance in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Church hit his first home run since coming off the DL, this one to straight away center with the ball landing inside of the Mets Apple!! It was Church's first RBI since April 27.

But, it didn't get any easier for Santana; he gave up a solo home run to Chase Utley to start the eighth, and was pulled from the game, albeit reluctantly. Pedro Feliciano was able to induce a double play by Howard, and a ground out to second by Ibanez to end the threat and preserve the lead.

Finally, K-Rod closed down the show with a strike out of Gregg Dobbs to earn his 16th straight save of this season. The Mets are now 31-25, and two games behind the Phillies for first in the NL East. Box Score.