PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils returned to the Bank tonight to begin a long homestand with a key weekend series against the Mets. It just so happens this weekend is Phils alumni weekend as well the alumni festivities got rousing start before the game tonight as Darren "Dutch" Daulton was inducted into the Phils wall of fame. No doubt inspired, the Phils jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 1st, on a RBI double by Placido Polanco. New York managed to eke out a couple runs over the next few innings to grab a 2-1 lead, but Joe Blanton made sure would they do no more than that. He really was solid for the 2nd time in 3 starts, allowing just those 2 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 4 in 7 strong innings. It didn't look like it would matter though, as John Niece was mowing down the Phils hitters through 7. They just couldn't get anything going against him after that 1st inning because he was just that good.

Fortunately for the Phils, Niece left after the 7th, leaving it up to the Met bullpen to get the final 6 outs and they could not. First up for the Met bullpen was Bobby Parnell. Mike Sweeney singled off him to start the inning, for his first hit as a Phil. Jayson Werth followed with another single to move Sweeney to 3rd. Then Ben Francisco slapped the Phils 3rd successive hit to score Sweeney with the tying run. Next Carlos Ruiz slapped a 4th straight single to score Werth with the go ahead run. Finally, after 4 hits and 0 outs Parnell was lifted from the game in favor of Pedro Feliciano. Wilson Valdez greeted Feliciano with a bunt, that he failed to field, allowing Valdez reach base safely and load the bases. Feliciano then walked Ross Gload to force in another run. He then fell behind Jimmy Rollins before JRoll slapped a single for another run.

Finally after that Raul Ibanez struck out for the 1st out of the inning and that was it for Pedro, who was replaced by Manny Acosta. Acosta didn't do much better. First Polanco lined a sac fly for another run. Then Sweeney collected his 2nd hit of the inning for another run, the Phils 6th of the inning. Jayson Werth then grounded out to end the inning at last, but with a 7-2 lead the Phils already had more than enough of a cushion for victory right? Well J.C Romero almost gave everything back to the Mets in the 9th, allowing a 3 run homer to Mike Hessman, that cut the lead to 7-5. Fortunately, Brad Lidge came in after that and struck out Jesus Feliciano to end it. There's not much better than a comeback win over the hated Mets, except a loss by the Braves on the same night which pulls to within a game of the lead in the NL East. Not a bad place to be.