PHILADELPHIA - Jimmy Rollins watched most of the game from the top step of the dugout, cheered on his teammates and got a chance to pinch-hit in an important spot.
The Philadelphia Phillies need more than a cameo from the 2007 NL MVP to beat the New York Mets.
Oliver Perez pitched 5 2-3 scoreless innings, Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer and the Mets defeated the Phillies 4-2 Saturday.
David Wright had a two-run double for the Mets, who won their fourth straight against Philadelphia after losing nine in a row over two seasons.
Each of New York's wins has come with Rollins missing from the Phillies' lineup because of a sprained left ankle.
“They have a real good lineup, so you have to be careful with them,” Perez said.
Without Rollins sparking things at the top, an offense that led the league in runs the last two years has sputtered.
“Our pitching has been good enough for us to have a winning record,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “We need to start hitting.”
Perez (2-0) allowed four hits, struck out seven and overcame five walks. Aaron Heilman escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Billy Wagner finished for his fourth save.
Chase Utley hit a solo homer for the Phillies. Jamie Moyer (1-1) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.
Rollins hasn't started the last 10 games since he got hurt in a win over the Mets on April 8. With a sellout crowd chanting “MVP,” Rollins emerged from the dugout to bat for Moyer in the sixth. But he grounded out against Duaner Sanchez to leave two runners on.
Reyes then homered in the seventh to make it 4-0. Struggling Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard botched Endy Chavez's hard grounder that could've been an inning-ending double play, allowing Reyes to come up against Ryan Madson.
Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. He's batting .182 with 26 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. Howard heard plenty of boos after he fanned for the third time.
Utley connected off Scott Schoeneweis, slicing it to 4-1 in the seventh. The Phillies missed an opportunity to get closer in the eighth after getting one run.
Pat Burrell drew a leadoff walk from Joe Smith. After Pedro Feliz grounded out, pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs singled off Pedro Feliciano and Eric Bruntlett walked to load the bases.
Heilman came in and allowed an RBI single by pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz that cut it to 4-2. But Heilman struck out pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth to end the threat.
The Mets jumped on Moyer right away. Reyes led off with a double down the left-field line.
Ryan Church followed with a liner to right field that was dropped by So Taguchi and ruled a single.
Wright's double to center drove in two runs for a 2-0 lead.
Moyer settled in after that inning, but didn't get much help from his offense.
“That's probably the most consistent I've been,” Moyer said.
Notes: Wright has 12 RBIs in the last seven games. ... The Mets have scored in the first inning in seven straight games. ... Rollins isn't sure when he'll return to the lineup, though Manuel hasn't ruled out Sunday night. ... Howard is 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts against Perez.
Mets 4
Phillies 2
Oliver Perez pitched 5 2-3 scoreless innings, Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer and the Mets defeated the Phillies 4-2 Saturday.
David Wright had a two-run double for the Mets, who won their fourth straight against Philadelphia after losing nine in a row over two seasons.
Each of New York's wins has come with Rollins missing from the Phillies' lineup because of a sprained left ankle.
“They have a real good lineup, so you have to be careful with them,” Perez said.
Without Rollins sparking things at the top, an offense that led the league in runs the last two years has sputtered.
“Our pitching has been good enough for us to have a winning record,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “We need to start hitting.”
Perez (2-0) allowed four hits, struck out seven and overcame five walks. Aaron Heilman escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Billy Wagner finished for his fourth save.
Chase Utley hit a solo homer for the Phillies. Jamie Moyer (1-1) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.
Rollins hasn't started the last 10 games since he got hurt in a win over the Mets on April 8. With a sellout crowd chanting “MVP,” Rollins emerged from the dugout to bat for Moyer in the sixth. But he grounded out against Duaner Sanchez to leave two runners on.
Reyes then homered in the seventh to make it 4-0. Struggling Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard botched Endy Chavez's hard grounder that could've been an inning-ending double play, allowing Reyes to come up against Ryan Madson.
Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. He's batting .182 with 26 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. Howard heard plenty of boos after he fanned for the third time.
Utley connected off Scott Schoeneweis, slicing it to 4-1 in the seventh. The Phillies missed an opportunity to get closer in the eighth after getting one run.
Pat Burrell drew a leadoff walk from Joe Smith. After Pedro Feliz grounded out, pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs singled off Pedro Feliciano and Eric Bruntlett walked to load the bases.
Heilman came in and allowed an RBI single by pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz that cut it to 4-2. But Heilman struck out pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins and Jayson Werth to end the threat.
The Mets jumped on Moyer right away. Reyes led off with a double down the left-field line.
Ryan Church followed with a liner to right field that was dropped by So Taguchi and ruled a single.
Wright's double to center drove in two runs for a 2-0 lead.
Moyer settled in after that inning, but didn't get much help from his offense.
“That's probably the most consistent I've been,” Moyer said.
Notes: Wright has 12 RBIs in the last seven games. ... The Mets have scored in the first inning in seven straight games. ... Rollins isn't sure when he'll return to the lineup, though Manuel hasn't ruled out Sunday night. ... Howard is 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts against Perez.
Mets 4
Phillies 2
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