Phillies 3, Mets 2
Phillies 3, Mets 2: Kyle Kendrick tossed 7 2/3 solid innings to collect his career-high fourth straight victory and Ryan Howard snapped a tie with a sacrifice fly as host Philadelphia salvaged the finale of its three-game series.
Kevin Frandsen, who scored on Howard's fly ball to left field in the fifth inning, collected four hits - including an RBI single. John Mayberry added three hits and former Met Ty Wigginton ripped a run-scoring double for the Phillies, who ended a five-game home losing skid to their National League East rival.
Kendrick (8-9) settled down after yielding solo homers to Mike Baxter and Scott Hairston in the first and second innings, respectively. The right-hander struck out six and retired 13 batters in a row before exiting the contest in the eighth after issuing two straight singles.
Raul Valdes ended the threat by recording a one-pitch groundout and Jonathan Papelbon secured his 30th save by retiring the side in the ninth. Papelbon has reached the 30-save plateau in each of his last seven seasons.
Jimmy Rollins ripped a double in the sixth inning, but was caught in a base-running blunder one batter later. Manager Charlie Manuel promptly replaced Rollins with Michael Martinez to start the seventh inning.
Jonathon Niese (10-8) fell to 2-1 against the Phillies this season after permitting three runs on nine hits in six innings. Niese has pitched 16 consecutive starts of at least six frames.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Baxter deposited the second pitch he saw from Kendrick out of the park for his second homer of the series - and season. ... Playing in his major-league debut, Philadelphia C Steven Lerud singled to left-center field for his first career hit. ... The Phillies tied a season high with five doubles. ... The last time the Mets won six in a row at Philadelphia was during the 1971 season. ... Fifteen of Wigginton's 40 RBIs have come against the Mets this season. ... New York will open a three-game set in Miami on Friday. ... Philadelphia will visit the Peach State for a three-game series versus Atlanta.