Game #129: Mets 7, Phillies 4

Nick Evans hit a three-run home run in the first inning. (NYTimes.com)

If anything, the Mets have been consistent in avoiding being swept by Philly.

Nick Evans had his best game as a pro with 4 RBIs, and Mike Pelfrey was able to keep the Phillies' bats under wrap, giving the Mets a 7-4 series-ending win.

The Good Stuff:

• This one was over by the end of the 1st (in our favor, for once). Angel Pagan led off with a single, Ruben Tejada reached on an error, and David Wright singled to load the bases. Lucas Duda grounded out to score one and Jason Bay struck out, setting up Nick Evans for a home run of the 3-run variety, his second of the year, to make it 4-0 New York before Pelf could even take the mound.
• Philadelphia got close with 3 runs in the 2nd, but David Wright gave the Mets some more breathing room in the 3rd with an opposite-field solo jack. He drove in one more the next inning on a sac fly to finish the day 3-4 with 2 RBIs.
• Nick Evans made it Lucky 7 the next frame: after Bay walked, Evans laced a double into the right-center gap to plate another. Evans finished the day 3-4 with 4 RBIs, easily his best game as a pro. Very quietly, he's managed to get his average up to a respectable .265. Evans's development is good for multiple reasons: first, it gives the Mets another semi-regular to put out there for the rest of the year (possibly beyond), and gives Lucas Duda a chance to better learn right field.
• Aside from a rocky 2nd, Mike Pelfrey was solid as a rock on the mound, going keeping the Phillies to just those 3 runs in 6 innings of work.
• Bobby Parnell picked up his first save, walking 2 in the 9th but striking out both Ryan Howard and Hunter Pence consecutively, no small feat.

The Bad Stuff:

• Jason Bay went hitless again and appears to be back into a rut of mediocrity.
• The Met fielders committed 3 errors on the day, not at all a good thing.
• Jon Niese has gone to the DL, and it appears Scott Hairston and Ronny Paulino could be headed there too. When in the name of Casey Stengel does this end??

Final Analysis:
Finally, a win. It feels good. Let it sink in. Let it wipe your mind of the recent struggles, at least for the rest of the day. Today, at least, the Mets were winners. And it feels good.

MM