Mets Come From Behind Again, Beat Phillies

The Mets made a statement Tuesday night — they are a force with which to be reckoned for the entire season. Once again they came from behind to beat the Phillies.

Miguel Batista got the start, and he was not good, allowing two runs in each of the first two innings. Hunter Pence slammed a two-run homer in the first (left), and a couple of hits plated two runs in the second. Now, to be fair, those second inning runs were unearned thanks to errors by Jordany Valdespin and Batista himself on the same play. But Batista was unable to pitch himself out of trouble. Batista lasted just 5.1 innings, allowing the four runs on eight hits and walking two.

Daniel Murphy singled home Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the fourth to make it 4-1.

Joe Blanton stymied the Mets offense, until the seventh inning, that is, when they staged yet another two-out rally. Valdespin was already on first when Andres Torres singled to put runners on first and third. Nieuwenhuis followed with a single to make it 4-2 and chase Blanton from the game. Chad Qualls came on and promptly allowed a single to David Wright to score Torres, cutting the lead to 4-3. But Wright got caught up between first and second. The Phillies botched the rundown, allowing Wright to run to an unoccupied second base. At the same time Nieuwenhuis strayed off third, so Pete Orr threw to third but his throw was wild, allowing Nieuwenhuis to score to tie the game at four. Antonio Bastardo was summoned and Lucas Duda drove in Wright with a single to take the lead, 5-4.

The Mets scored two more runs in the ninth and the bullpen finally came through, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings. The Mets take their second series from the last place Phillies in Philadelphia and run their record to 17-13.