Magic number is 60! Mets take sole possession of first with 3-1 win over Phils

The New York Mets’ magic number is 60.

OK, so maybe it’s a little early to be talking magic numbers – especially in light of last season’s finish – but the Mets did grab sole possession of first place in the National League East Thursday afternoon with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Oliver Perez threw 7 2/3 strong innings of one-run ball while striking out 12, keeping it tied until Carlos Delgado put the Mets out front with a two-out, two-run double in the eighth.

Billy Wagner again got the save, but the win went to Aaron Heilman, who pitched to just one batter but got Jayson Werth to fly out to center to end the eighth.

Perez lost his bid for the first New York Mets no hitter in the first inning when Pat Burrell singled to left, putting the “tragic number” – a k a our NoNoHitters.com count – at 7,422 games.