Mets squander 7-run lead, lose to Phillies in 13
Halladay finally beats Tampa Bay
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:55 AM PDT
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets are playing as if it’s September.
Last September, that is.
New York’s beleaguered bullpen blew yet another big lead as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat the Mets 8-7 in 13 innings on Tuesday night.
‘‘We stayed after them,’’ Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. ‘‘A lot of things happened, everything except a fight.’’
At Philadelphia, Fernando Tatis hit a three-run homer and the Mets staked Pedro Martinez to a 7-0 lead.
But the Phillies chipped away against Martinez and rallied against a bullpen that has blown 10 leads in the ninth inning, according to Stats LLC.
The Mets have 22 blown saves overall, including seven by injured All-Star closer Billy Wagner. This one might have been the most devastating.
‘‘People are going to have to get people out,’’ Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. ‘‘We’ll keep doing it until we find the right way.’’
Toronto 6
Tampa Bay 2
TAMPA BAY — The Tampa Bay Rays were 3-0 this season against Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Just like every other team which had ever been in that situation against the right-hander, they didn’t get the fourth win.
Halladay beat Tampa Bay for the first time this season, and Vernon Wells homered and had three RBIs as the Blue Jays beat the AL East leaders 6-2 on Tuesday night.
‘‘I honestly don’t know how we beat him three times,’’ Rays left fielder Eric Hinske said. ‘‘He’s probably the best pitcher in baseball. Tonight he had a good night.’’
Halladay (16-9) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He had a 5.32 ERA in losing his previous three starts against Tampa Bay this year, nowhere near the 2.69 figure he has for the season.
‘‘It’s a team that can get you at any point, so you’ve got to kind of be on your toes,’’ Halladay said. ‘‘You can never get too comfortable. You’ve got to go out and still be aggressive. You can’t change your game plan too much, but I think there’s a point with teams like this that they’re never out of it. It’s a tough team to pitch again.’’
Halladay struck out seven and is 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA over his last five starts.
