Game 128: Mets vs. Phillies @ Shea Stadium

A day after an irritating loss to the rival Phillies, it would be nice to see how the New York Mets would bounce back. Carlos Beltran would quickly prove his MVP worth as he put the Mets ahead by two runs with his 38th home run of the season. Oliver Perez, making his first start as a Met, would escape trouble in the first inning but would carry a no-hitter through four innings. Chris Coste, a career minor leaguer, would take an arguable ball at the plate and would walk to leadoff the inning. Oliver would then load the bases for Ryan Howard and would promptly use his agressiveness to get ahead in the count 2-0. After a few words with Paul Lo Duca, Perez threw a questionable slider that never broke and Howard deposited it over the right center field fence for a grand slam. It was also his major league leading 46th home run of the season. After a few rally killing double plays, the Mets would get on the board once again as Beltran would walk to leadoff the sixth inning. Hot hitting Carlos Delgado would battle his way through a tough at bat that would conclude with him depositing the ball over the left field wall for a two run home run, his 34tth of the season. The Mets would then load the bases for Julio Franco, but the tying run would elude them once more as Franco would ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Darren Oliver and Pedro Feliciano would come on to throw a few zero's on the board and the scene was set for Jose Reyes to lead off the 7th inning. He would line a first pitch fastball off reliever Rick White, which would be followed by a single from Paul Lo Duca. Carlos Beltran would then take a hit by pitch and Delgado would step to the plate with the bases loaded. Facing lefty Aaron Fultz (Yes, THAT Aaron Fultz), Delgado would hit a deep fly to left center field to tie the game and advance all three runners. The Phillies followed by intentionally walking David Wright to face Shawn Green. Green would quickly dig himself a hole by falling to 0-2 in the count. However, he would lay off a tough breaking pitch and would then drive the next offering just over Pat Burrell's glove in left field to give the Mets the lead. The Mets would then take an intentional walk to Jose Valentin and string together a couple of more hits to push the score to 11-5. Jose Reyes and Paul Lo Duca would ground out to end the inning. Willie Randolph would then show some confidence in his newly acquired reliever, Guillermo Mota, by calling upon his right arm to pitch the 8th inning. Mota would dominate once more as he retired all three batters he faced. Guillermo Mota would cap off the night and send the Met faithful home happy by retiring the final three batters he faced.
Final Score: Mets 11, Phillies 5. Record: 79-49. Magic Number: 20.

Notes: Jose Valentin would have a nice diving grab off the bat off Jimmy Rollins to lead off the 7th inning. David Wright's frustration continues to show in the field. Chris Woodward has stepped up his offensive production as of late. Carlos Delgado would feel the wrath of Shea Stadium as his apparent bomb of a home run would be caught at the wall by the Phillies' right fielder in the 8th inning. David Wright's struggles at the plate continue. even his seeing-eye hits would fail tonight as Jimmy Rollins would rob him in the hole in the 8th inning, a la Rey Ordonez. Carlos Beltran would hit his 200th home run of his career in the first inning. It was the 10th time this season that Beltran and Delgado have hit home runs in the same game. The Mets extended their division lead back to 14.5 games and lowered their magic number to 20.