Phils Rally To Win 7th In Row Over Mets

NEW YORK (AP) _ Carlos Beltran misplayed Jimmy Rollins' line drive into a two-run triple and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat New York 5-3 Saturday for their seventh straight victory over

Saturday, September 15th 2007, 4:57 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Carlos Beltran misplayed Jimmy Rollins' line drive into a two-run triple and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat New York 5-3 Saturday for their seventh straight victory over the Mets.

Aaron Rowand hit a tying homer and went 3-for-5 for Philadelphia, which pulled within 4 1/2 games of the NL East-leading Mets. The Phillies were 1 1/2 back of wild card-leading San Diego entering play.

New York wasted another terrific start by Pedro Martinez, who struck out nine and held the Phillies to one run in six innings. Martinez was sidelined for most of the season after having major shoulder surgery last October, but is 2-0 in three starts since he came off the disabled list Sept. 3.

The Mets led 3-1 after six innings but couldn't hold on for the second straight game. Chase Utley's two-run homer erased the Mets' 2-0 lead Friday night and Philadelphia went on to win 3-2 on pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs' sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.

The Phillies lead the majors with 45 come-from-behind wins.

Rowand led off the eighth with a drive to left off Pedro Feliciano for his 24th homer, tying it at 3. Jorge Sosa (9-7) came in and walked pinch-hitter Wes Helms, who was replaced at first by Chris Roberson.

Roberson advanced to second on a sacrifice and Sosa walked pinch-hitter Pete Laforest with two outs. That set the stage for Rollins, who lined an 0-1 pitch to center.

Beltran charged in before quickly realizing it was over his head. The All-Star center fielder then retreated but it was too late. Both runners scored and Rollins held his arms out and yelled toward the Philadelphia dugout after he reached third.

Rollins, who boldly proclaimed in the offseason that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East, went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and two RBIs.

Antonio Alfonseca (5-1) worked a perfect seventh to get the win. J.C. Romero and Tom Gordon combined to record three outs and get it to Brett Myers, who pitched the ninth for his 17th save and second in as many days.

Alfonseca is allowed to pitch while he appeals his four-game suspension for hitting Colorado's Todd Helton with a pitch Thursday.

Pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson was ejected in the bottom of the ninth for arguing a called third strike call by plate umpire Dan Iassogna. An incensed Anderson threw his batting helmet toward home after he reached the dugout.

With runners on first and second, Myers struck out David Wright and got Beltran to fly out to right to end the game.

The Mets went in front 3-1 in the second, parlaying four stolen bases into two runs off Kyle Lohse. Luis Castillo singled, swiped second and scored on Beltran's base hit.

The thievery continued with Beltran on the basepaths. He stole second and third to set up Paul Lo Duca's RBI single. Shawn Green, who walked and nabbed second, went to third on Lo Duca's hit but was stranded there when Lastings Milledge flied out.

The Mets tied a franchise record with six steals and have 38 stolen bases in their last 23 games. They lead the majors with 193 for the year.

Martinez kept New York in front while he was in, throwing 68 of his season-high 98 pitches for strikes. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed three earned runs over 16 innings in his comeback.

Martinez was the victim of some bad luck in the first. Utley reached on a bloop single and went to third when Ryan Howard singled to right. Rowand then lofted a fly ball that landed just inside the foul line in right for a base hit.

Utley trotted home to make it 1-0. Howard went all the way to third but Martinez struck out Dobbs to end the inning.

The Mets loaded the bases with no outs in the second but only managed to tie it. Utley threw home for the forceout when Lo Duca hit a grounder to second, but Lohse hit Milledge with a pitch to force in a run.

Lohse then struck out Martinez, and Jose Reyes popped out on the right-hander's first pitch to end the inning.

Notes: New York activated backup C Ramon Castro (lower back arthritis) from the disabled list. ... Mets LF Moises Alou reached on an infield single in the second to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. ... The Mets were caught stealing three times.