Phillies Beat Mets; Cliff Lee Gets 1st Win of Season

Chris Young and Cliff Lee faced off  in a July 4 matinee at Citi Field and when it was all over Lee declared his independence from the ranks of the unvictorious.

The game was scoreless until the fourth when Scott Hairston lashed a line drive into the seats in left field to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy — the Mets hottest hitters — both singled and David Wright followed with a  single of his own to plate Tejada for the 2-0 lead.

But then came the seventh inning — Juan Pierre led off with a single and Chase Utley followed with a two-run bomb to right to tie the score at two. Carlos Ruiz followed with a solo shot to left the give the Philles a sudden 3-2 lead.

Young was removed after the inning, allowing three runs on five hits, three strikeouts and no walks.

Miguel Batista started the eighth and allowed a single to John Mayberry, Jr. Terry Collins pulled Batista after the one  batter in favor of Tim Byrdak. Cliff Lee sacrificed Mayberry to second and Jimmy Rollins hit a ground rule double to center to extend the Phillies lead to 4-2. Ty Wigginton was intentionally walked and Utley lined out. Jeremy Hefner came on and allowed a single to Ruiz to make it 5-2. Hunter Pence then hit a grounder up the middle that bounced off of Tejada’s glove to extend the lead to 6-2. Somehow it was ruled a hit; it should have been an error.

Hefner allowed three more runs in the ninth, including a two-run shot by Wigginton. The Mets really must make a couple of moves for relievers, and sooner rather than later before the bullpen wrecks the season.

Cliff Lee collects his first win of the seasons as the Mets lose 9-2.