Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – John Mayberry finished 2-for-4 with a career- high five RBI as Philadelphia began the second half on a strong note with a 7-2 decision over the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series at Citi Field.
Raul Ibanez homered, while Carlos Ruiz collected two hits and scored twice for the Phillies, who were coming off a series win over Atlanta prior to the All-Star break and have won seven of nine overall.
Recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Vance Worley (5-1) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run. The lanky right-hander fanned four, walked four and drove in a run.
“We pressed him one time as far as pushing him to seven innings,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “It’s just a matter of time that you’ll be seeing him go deep in the game. He has that kind of talent.”
Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer and scored both runs for the Mets, who have dropped three straight and four of five. With the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31 approaching, Beltran is one name being mentioned as possibly one who could be switching clubs.
The Mets have already unloaded closer Francisco Rodriguez, trading him to Milwaukee Tuesday night.
“We all know the situation where I am,” Beltran said. “Everyone knows that Francisco got traded, but at the same time we need to move on. We have to look forward and avoid negative information or information that is going to keep us down.”
R.A. Dickey (4-8) was charged in defeat for six hits and four runs over seven full frames.
The Phils opened the scoring by pushing across three runs in the second. Ibanez and Ruiz singled ahead of a walk to Domonic Brown, then Mayberry punched a two-run single through the right side and Worley followed with an RBI groundout.
New York put two on with one out in the home third, but Worley escaped the jam by inducing a 1-6-3 double-play grounder from Beltran.
Ibanez robbed Ruben Tejada of extra bases with a leaping grab to start the bottom of the fifth, then reached the seats in right with one out in the sixth for a 4-0 game.
Worley was chased with one out in the home sixth after loading the bases on two walks and a single. Juan Perez uncorked a wild pitch while fanning pinch- hitter Scott Hairston and Beltran crossed the plate for the Mets’ first run, but pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino grounded out.
Two walks and an error in the Philadelphia eighth loaded the bases with one down in the eighth, then Mayberry cleared the decks with a double to make it a 7-1 contest.
Beltran connected to dead center off Michael Stutes with one out in the home half, but that was all the Mets had in store offensively. Antonio Bastardo turned in a perfect ninth to end the contest.