Game #155: Mets 4, Phillies 3

Everybody know everybody? Mets, Wilfredo Tovar. Wilfredo Tovar, Phillies. Phillies, sweep. Good.

Wilfredo Tovar's first big-league hit put his team out in front, and the Mets held on to sweep the Phillies 4-3.

The Good Stuff:

• Wilfredo Tovar had about as good a major-league debut as one could have hoped.
• The young Venezuelan, who helped the B-Mets do so well in the Eastern League this season, showed off his arm in the bottom of the 3rd when he successfully sat down Jimmy Rollins at first to complete an unlikely double play.
• Down 2-1 with runners on second and third in the top of the 7th, Tovar lined a Cliff Lee fastball into left field for his first hit and RBI. Juan Lagares scored and Anthony Recker was able to come home on Domonic Brown's error in left, and the Mets were up 3-2 thanks to Tovar's bat.
• With a single in the top of the 9th, Tovar finished his first day 2-4 with an RBI and stolen base.
• Lagares broke out of his slump with a double, two singles, a run, and an RBI.
• Eric Young went 2-5 with a double and a run.
• The support was good enough for Carlos Torres, who earned the W after lasting six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six on 95 pitches.
• LaTroy Hawkins managed the 9th to earn his 100th career save. With 12 on the season, it's the most saves Hawkins has gotten in a season since 2004 as the Cubs' closer.

The Bad Stuff:

• New York hit just 2-14 with RISP and stranded seven men on base.

Final Analysis:
A sweep of the hated Phillies in their final home games of the season, plus a successful prospect debut at a position the Mets desperately need to fill? That'll do.

MM