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Jose Reyes’ 11th homer of the season broke a 3-3 deadlock and led the Mets to a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies and another share of the N.L. East lead.
The Mets managed to score two runs in the first without a hit thanks to four walks and a mishandled groundout to first that should have been a double-play. But the Phils fired back in the top of the second when starter John Maine gave up back-to-back homers to Shane Victorino and Geoff Jenkins. The first of those homers bumped our NoNoHitters.com count up to 7,421 games without a New York Mets no-hitter.
Maine settled down and went seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
The Mets loaded the bases again in the third inning and took the lead on a Damion Easley infield hit to short, but the Phillies rallied back to tie the game at 3 on a Jimmy Rollins double to right-center.
Easley started a sixth-inning rally with another infield hit, which was followed by a Brian Schneider single and the Reyes home run.
Easley tried to jump-start another rally in the seventh with his third infield hit of the night. But after Schneider doubled, pinch hitter Fernando Tatis grounded out and Reyes reached base on an intentional walk, Endy Chavez ended the inning on a ground out.
The Mets once again failed to get any insurance runs in the eighth despite having two runners in scoring position, so instead of turning to last night’s bullpen-by-committee approach they opted for closer Billy Wager.
Wagner shut the door, and the Mets are back tied for first.
