On the Mets beat

Phillies (54-47) take on the Mets (54-47) for the series and for first place.

It seems like every time the Mets send Oliver Perez to the hill, they need him to not be...well...Oliver Perez. But unpredictable and oft-wild lefty has been solid in big-game situations, and, at this stage of the season, this is probably as big as they come. The Mets are coming off a crippling loss on Tuesday and a strong performance by John Maine yesterday that saved them from capsizing. As a result, they have a shot at first place and a chance to strike a definitive blow against the Phillies. Jerry Manuel, though, no doubt frustrated with Santana's 100-pitches-and-done on Tuesday, said that he's looking for something more from his rotation. Perez, who's only lasted an average of 5 1/3 innings per start, is expected to go deeper - as deep as the Mets and their bullpen needs him to go. In reality, that might be his biggest challenge to date. While Perez is often been surprisingly good in big places, longevity has never been his strong suit.

The Mets, of course, will have to get past the Phillies' legitimately terrifying lineup first, including Shane Victorino, who has two homers in his last two games. The Phillies, on their part, will have to get past the suddenly scary bat of Carlos Delgado. Who woulda thunk it?

Probable Pitchers:
Jamie Moyer (9-6, 3.90 ERA) v. Oliver Perez (6-6, 4.36 ERA)

Every time it seems like Moyer's age is getting to him, he bounces back hugely. He come off a great outing against the Marlins, where he allowed only two runs over six innings. He's stymied the Mets, who are hitting only 3.37 against him. Still, two of those three games were losses for him. Perez remains a mystery to Mets. He pitched decently against the Reds, allowing two earned runs over six innings, but against had problems with wildness. Perez is masterful when it counts and nowhere near that when it doesn't as much. To quote many a sports commentator, Perez's problem is all up there. (He is, by the way, undefeated - 5-0 - against winning teams this year.)

Laura Albanese here.

FINAL: 3-1 METS AND FIRST

Top of the ninth
Wanger up to face Victorino, who pops up to first. Feliz flies out or out number two. Coste singles and here comes Jimmy Rollins to bat. Rollins chops the ball to third and Wright gets the force at second.

Bottom of the eighth
J.C. Romero in to pitch. Robnson Cancel hitting for Heilman and he lines a low breaking ball to left for a single. Reyes sacrifices him over to second, 1-3. Endy Chavez hits for Evans and lines the ball right back into Romero's glove. Cancel stays put, smartly, and that's two excellent plays by Romero. He also fielded the bunt cleanly to get Reyes. They walk Wright intentionally to bring Delgado to the plate. (Romero is almost unhittable against lefties) Delgado lines a basehit into the letfield corner and Cancel scores. Wright scores behind him. Delgado is out trying to stretch the double to a triple.

SCORE: 3-1, METS

Top of the eighth
So Taguchi pinch hitting for Moyer. He grounds out to short. Bruntlett hits a long fly ball to left that JUST misses. He pulls into second with a double off the wall. Utley strikes out swinging on a slider. The Mets interestingly (stupidly?) intentionally walk Burrell to get to Howard. Big, big at bat. Howard waves at a slider, swings and misses on a fastball, looks at three straight balls before hitting him to load the bases. And that's all for Ollie...PITCHING CHANGE: AARON HEILMAN. Met-Killer Jason Werth up. Fastball, strike; Swinging strike; flies out to center to end the threat. Huge, huge out for the Mets.

Bottom of the seventh
Beltran pops up to shallow left. Tatis walks. Easley pops out to shallow right. Castro lines a ball to left but Werth makes the sliding catch in front of him to end the inning.

Top of seventh
Werth drills a home run to centerfield to tie the game. Victorino flies out to shallow center. Feliz sstrikes out swinging. Coste pops up the end the inning.

SCORE: 1-1

Bottom of the sixth
Evans fouls out on the first pitch. Wright flies out to Utley in shallow right. Delgado flies out to right.

Top of the sixth
Bruntlett lines a ball to the leftfield corner for a double. Utley grounds out and Bruntlett holds at third. Burrell flies out to shallow left and Evans guns it in. Bruntlett holds. Perez works Howard to a 1-2 count...3-2 and Howard strikes out swinging to end the threat.

Bottom of the fifth
Castro lines out to third and Perez strikes out. Reyes flies out to end the quick inning.

Top of the fifth
Feliz pops out to Easley is shallow right. Coste strikes out swinging on a fastball (No. 8)...and Moyer is number nine. He strikes out on the curve.

Bottom of the fourth
Beltran grounds out to third and Tatis strikes out looking on an inside changeup. Easley flies out.

Top of the fourth
Ryan Howard strikes out, for Ollie’s sixth K. Werth strikes out looking and Victorino flies out.

Bottom of the third
Castro flies out to right and Perez strikes out swinging...and swings himself around twice on the attempt. Reyes walks and (naturally) steals. Evans walks on a 3-2 count. Wright lines a ball to right on the first pitch. Reyes scores and Evans sneaks into third on the play. Wright on first. Delgado grounds out to shallow right to end the inning.

SCORE: 1-0, METS

Top of the third
Moyer strikes out looking. Bruntlett singles and Utley strikes out. Burrell flies out to left center.

Bottom of the second
Carlos Delgado grounds out to first. Beltran strikes out looking. Fernando Tatis grounds a fastball up the middle for a basehit. Damion Easley flies out to left center.

Top of the second
Jason Werth, who has hurt the Mets, flies out to deep center. Shane Victorino smacks the ball to shortstop and beats it out for an infield hit. Pedro Feliz pops out to a backpeddling Reyes in shallow left. Chris Coste strikes out swinging.

Bottom of the first
Jose Reyes strikes out looking on an inside fastball. Nick Evans grounds out to shortstop. Eric Cooper behind the plate, by the way, and the strike zone is HUGE. David Wright strikes out looking on a breaking ball.

Top of the first
Eric Bruntlett grounds out to second. Chase Utley strikes out swinging on a 2-2 slider. Pat Burrell lines a single to left. Ryan Howard strikes out looking to end the inning.