A series sweep was just not in the cards for the New York Mets Thursday, as the Philadelphia Phillies used a terrific outing from starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (8-9) and timely hitting to down the visitors, 3-2, at Citizens Bank Park. The loss snapped a four-game losing streak for the Mets (61-70) and gave the Phillies (62-69) at least one victory in the three-game set.
Kenderick earned the win after tossing 7 2/3 innings allowing two runs on seven hits. Losing pitcher Jon Niese (10-8) looked sharp early, but a two-out rally by the Phillies in the bottom of the third inning, which trimmed the Mets two-run lead to 2-1, was the beginning of the end.
Philadelphia tacked on runs in both the fourth and fifth to take a 3-2 lead. From there, Kendrick held the Mets in check then handed the game over to the bullpen in the eighth. Raul Valdes got one out in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 30th save of the season.
Overall, the Mets' David Wright and Scott Hariston each went 2-for-4. Hairston collected a solo home run in the second inning which game New York an early 2-0 lead.
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