PBR - Starting a series at Citi Field, Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels was set to face the one team in the division that he has never quite got a hold on facing - the New York Mets.
That said, there's nothing that seems to be derailing Hamels this year.
He went eight innings, giving up four runs with six strikeouts in not his best start but one good enough for his eighth win on the season (tied for MLB-lead) as the Phils beat the Mets, 8-4, on Memorial Day in division play.
After first basemen Ty Wigginton knocked in the go-ahead run with a single off Mets reliever Bobby Parnell that plated shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the seventh inning, he wasn't finished with his contribution from the dish just yet.
Wigginton added some insurance with a three-run bomb in the ninth to break it open. He was 3-for-3 on the day with a career-high six RBI.
Phillies closer Jonathon Papelbon came out of the bullpen in a non-save situation, working a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Hamels is now 8-1 with a 2.43 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP as he continues his early quest for his first National League Cy Young award.
Tied 2-2 in the sixth, both teams added two more runs when Phillies left fielder John Mayberry, Jr. crushed a fastball off New York starter Jon Niese for a two-run home run to take the lead back.
Then, Mets Scott Hairston drilled his own two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-4.
With the inconsistent accuracy and the Phils' offense working counts,
Niese was out after five innings and four runs due to a high pitch count despite seven strikeouts.
With the win, the Phillies (26-24) are now 1 1/2 games behind New York (27-22) in the NL East standings, and four games back of first-place Washington (29-20 record after loss Monday to Marlins).
On Tuesday night, Joe Blanton (4-3, 4.45 ERA as starter) will be on the mound for the Phillies against Mets rookie Jeremy Hefner. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 at Citi Field.
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