Originally published Friday, July 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Resilient Mets take charge in NL East
Jerry Manuel was curious to see how his New York Mets would respond after a heartbreaking loss to Philadelphia. They answered with two big...
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Jerry Manuel was curious to see how his New York Mets would respond after a heartbreaking loss to Philadelphia.
They answered with two big wins.
Carlos Delgado hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning and Oliver Perez stifled the Phillies again, helping the Mets win 3-1 Thursday to take sole possession of first place in the NL East.
The Mets took two of three in the series after blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning of the opener. They are alone in first place for the first time since April 19.
"I'm very proud of the way this team bounced back after that game the other night," said Manuel, who has managed New York to a 21-12 record since Willie Randolph was fired last month. "We've been resilient for a long period of time."
Philadelphia has lost four of five and will host Atlanta in the opener of a three-game series tonight.
"Something's not in tune," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We have to pick it up. I don't know if it's hungry enough. I haven't put my finger on it, but we have to get after it more. We don't now have that extra kick, the kick we used to have."
New York got another dominant outing from Perez, who had a season-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run in 7-2/3 innings. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 0.35 earned-run average in 26 innings against Philadelphia this year and has a 1.35 ERA over his last four starts overall.
"Just trying to make pitches and the more important [thing], I always say, trying to [keep] my team in the game," Perez said.
Delgado hit a two-strike pitch from J.C. Romero into the left-field corner in the eighth to drive in Robinson Cancel and David Wright, who was intentionally walked before the big first baseman came to the plate with two outs.
Left-handed hitters were 5 for 68 (.074) against Romero this season before Delgado's clutch hit, which made the slugger 3 for 18 lifetime against the Phillies' reliever. He is batting .397 with five homers and 16 RBI in July after slumping for much of the year.
"I'm not doing anything different," Delgado said. "I got my timing back."
The Phillies' 45-year-old starter, Jamie Moyer, retired eight of his first nine batters before running into trouble in the third, hurt by an uncharacteristic lapse in control. The left-hander set down 13 of the last 14 hitters he faced and allowed one run and two hits in seven innings.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Mariners denied sweep in Boston as bullpen implodes
Jerry Brewer: Mariners don't need bevy of All-Stars to showcase improvement
Albert Pujols gets most All-Star votes
Tacoma Rainiers fall; Everett AquaSox win 15-14
Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sports car/coupe? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Shooting unveils very different sides of McNair
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
- Seattle may allow homeowners to build backyard cottages
- Confessions of an Idol Addict | "American Idols" on tour: Live coverage from opening date
- Quincy Jones remembers "the biggest entertainer on the planet": Michael Jackson
- Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread
247 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
181 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
138 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
129 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
113 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
109 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
107 - Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500
69 - Mariners did their part, now they need help
46 - Megachurch pastor Rick Warren addresses US Muslims
36
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Seattle may allow homeowners to build backyard cottages
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- The People's Pharmacy | Estrogen mimicker found in sunscreen
- Researchers stunned by inmates' success raising endangered frogs
- Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
- Toyota's Toyoda scolds execs for emulating U.S. car companies' mistakes
- Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise








