Mets, Phillies play to a draw

The NL East-leading Mets salvaged the finale of the three-game series, retaining a two-game edge over second-place Philadelphia.

By MIKE FITZPATRICK, Associated Press

Last update: September 8, 2008 - 8:22 AM

NEW YORK – The Mets want this September to end much better than the last one. Carlos Delgado and Johan Santana give them two big reasons to believe it will.

Delgado hit two long homers and drove in four runs, backing a huge victory by Santana as New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Sunday night for a doubleheader split.

The NL East leaders salvaged the finale of the three-game series, retaining a two-game edge over second-place Philadelphia. Last September, the Mets blew a seven-game cushion with 17 to play and lost the division crown to the Phillies.

“We think we’re as good as anybody. We think we’re the team to beat. We think that what happened last year is not going to happen again and we’re very confident that we can get this done,” Delgado said. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere here, a different feeling than what it was last year.”

In the opener, Jamie Moyer gave up only two soft singles in seven shutout innings and Greg Dobbs hit a three-run homer off Pedro Martinez, leading the Phillies to a 6-2 victory.

That put the pressure on Santana, the former Twins ace, on his bobblehead night.

“This is definitely one of the reasons why I’m here. I’m up for a challenge,” Santana said.

Cole Hamels hung an 0-2 breaking ball to Delgado leading off the third and he hit a drive estimated at 400 feet off the bottom of the right-field scoreboard. Delgado’s solo shot in the fifth soared past the second deck of seats in right and beyond New York’s bullpen, toward the Shea Stadium parking lot.

With the crowd chanting “MVP! MVP!” Delgado came out for a curtain call. He leads the majors with 22 homers since June 27.

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