(Best E Casino) - First place in the National League East division will be up for grabs when the
New York Mets and
Philadelphia Phillies square off tonight in the opener of a crucial three-game series from Shea Stadium.
The Mets have recently been the talk of baseball after recording 11 wins over their last 13 games to pull even with rival Philadelphia atop the NL East standings. Ever since manager Willie Randolph was fired last month, the team has been playing cohesive baseball. New York just split a four-game series from the Reds at Cincinnati, recording a 7-5 victory in 10 innings on Sunday.
Robinson Cancel scored the go-ahead run on Edwin Encarnacion's throwing error in the top of the 10th inning to lift New York to victory in the finale. Jose Reyes finished 4-for-6 with a triple and three runs scored for the Mets, who are 13-4 in the month of July. Carlos Delgado was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Ramon Castro belted a two-run homer in a winning effort.
New York starter Mike Pelfrey went seven innings and allowed five runs on six hits before giving way to Duaner Sanchez, who tossed two scoreless frames to pick up the victory. Billy Wagner struck out the side in the 10th to collect his 24th save of the season.
The Mets, who will put their seven-game home winning streak on the line Tuesday evening, will hand the ball to two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana. Santana is just 1-4 over his last five decisions and did not record one his last time out Thursday at Cincinnati. He was reached for five runs and six hits in four innings of a 10-8 win at Great American Ball Park.
The lefty is 1-0 in two starts versus the Phillies this season and 1-0 with a 2.75 earned run average in three career appearances against them.
Philadelphia has lost two straight and three of its last five games to watch its lead in the National League East dwindle away. It is just 5-7 over the past 12 games and suffered a heart-breaking 3-2 loss in 11 innings at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Phils starter Cole Hamels failed again to get his 10th win, but still turned in a fine performance by throwing eight innings of two-run ball. The lefty struck out seven batters and pitched seven innings or more for the 18th time in his 21 starts.
Reliever Clay Condrey absorbed the loss after he failed to record an out in the 11th on three hits and a walk. Condrey gave up a bases-loaded hit to Jorge Cantu to end the game.
Ryan Howard drove in both Philadelphia runs on two hits, while Shane Victorino also had a pair of hits in defeat.
The Phillies are 1-2 on a six-game road trip and 26-23 as the guest in 2008.
Taking the hill for the Phillies on Tuesday will be newcomer Joe Blanton, who was recently acquired from Oakland last week for three minor leaguers. Blanton, a first-round pick by the A's in 2002, has struggled to a 5-12 record with a 4.96 earned run average in 20 starts this season. Hopefully for the Phillies, a switch to the National League will help the bulky right-hander.
For his career, Blanton is 47-46 with a 4.25 ERA in 122 outings -- 118 starts -- over five major league seasons. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 earned run average in two career appearances (15 IP) against the Mets. Blanton previously faced them on June 23 of last season, hurling eight scoreless innings of five-hit ball for a no-decision in a 1-0 loss at Shea.
New York is 7-3 against the Phillies this season, with a 2-1 record at Shea Stadium. It has won the last three meetings in the series.
