NEW YORK— For the second consecutive game, the Mets shutout the two-time defending National League champion Phillies. For the second consecutive start, Hisanori Takahashi shined for the Mets.
Looking for another home series win, the Mets went about trying to beat the Phillies again and behind Hisanori Takahashi, scored enough runs to win the game.
In the second inning, Takahashi was helped out by the 16-foot high fence in left field, as a ball that Phillies left fielder Ben Francisco hit didn't cross the fence. It was only a long double and Takahashi struck out the next hitter Wilson Valdez to keep the Phillies off the scoreboard.
The Mets scored a run in their second, as Ike Davis who led off with a double scored on a sacrifice fly by Rod Barajas.
In the third, Jose Reyes led off with his first home run of the season. Reyes has now had a mulit-hit game in four of his last five, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. The Mets would waste a couple of walks later in the inning.
Meanwhile, Takahashi was brilliant once again. After shutting the Yankees out over six innings on Friday, he did the same thing against the Phillies tonight.
In the fourth, he stranded a runner at first after surrendering a leadoff single. He got into his most trouble in the sixth, allowing a leadoff single to Shane Victorino and another to Chase Utley, but he ended the inning with a fly out of Jayson Werth.
The Mets would respond in the bottom of the inning to score three runs off of Joe Blanton. David Wright led off with a double, Angel Pagan reached on a bunt hit and stole second, Rod Barajas drove them both in with a double, extending the lead to 4-0. Barajas has absolutely crushed the Phillies since leaving them after 2007, to the tune of 17 hits and seven home runs. He would get driven in by Jose Reyes later on to give the Mets a 5-0 lead.
Takahashi was taken out after six innings. He threw 94 pitches, allowed zero runs on five hits, and struck out six.
Jenrry Mejia, Ryota Igarashi, and Fernando Nieve, who may pitch on Saturday in Milwaukee, pitched the final three innings flawlessly. The Mets won the game 5-0, outscoring the Phillies 13-0 in the first two games.
Hisanori Takahashi won his fourth game of the season, first as a starter, as the Mets extended their winning streak to four games. They are back over .500 on the season at 24-23 and cut to within three games of the first place Phillies.
They will go for the sweep of the Phillies tomorrow night with Mike Pelfrey on the mound opposing Cole Hamels.
Series probable pitchers:
May 27
New York: Mike Pelfrey (2010: 6-1, 2.86 ERA) vs. Philadelphia: Cole Hamels (2010: 5-2, 3.92 ERA)
Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 27 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
May 28-30 @ Milwaukee Brewers
Philadelphia Phillies:
May 27 @ New York Mets
May 28-30 @ Florida Marlins
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