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They had entered the night hoping to retain some of the momentum they built during a six-run, ninth-inning rally Tuesday night that led to an improbable 8-6 win over the Mets. Prior to the game, manager Charlie Manuel spoke of the emotional significance of such a victory, both when it comes to boosting the spirits of one team and leveling those of the other.
But by the end of the night, the only thing that appeared level was the National League East standings that once again feature the Phillies and Mets tied for first place. Now 54-47, the Phillies must find a way to win their first series of the season against New York to avoid falling into second place for the first time since May 31.
Unlike many of his outings during the first half of the season, Myers wasn't the only one to blame. Although he struggled to command his pitches for most of the night - 20 of his first 28 pitches were balls - he also avoided the back-breaking home runs and extra-base hits that had plagued him in his first 17 starts of the season.
With one out in the first inning, Myers walked four straight batters to load the bases and force a run home. But he recorded two straight groundouts, limiting the total damage to two runs. He allowed another run in the third after walking David Wright, hitting Carlos Delgado with a pitch, and allowing singles to Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley, but retired seven of the last eight batters he faced before giving way to Ryan Madson to start the sixth.
"I felt like if that first inning didn't go that way, we would have won the game and I would have pitched nine innings with the way I felt," said Myers, who finished with three runs on three hits with five walks and two strikeouts while throwing 95 pitches.
But he also didn't get much help.
The Phillies once again found themselves stifled by Mets righthander John Maine, who is now 5-0 against them in his career. The Phillies managed just six hits - just one more than they had in the ninth inning alone Tuesday night - and had just three at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Shane Victorino and Geoff Jenkins hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2, and Jimmy Rollins drove in Carlos Ruiz in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3, but that was the extent of the offense.
Maine (9-7) pitched seven strong innings, striking out five before giving way to his bullpen. This time, the relievers came through, as Billy Wagner returned to the 'pen after sitting out Tuesday's game with muscle spasms. The former Phillie pitched a perfect ninth to record his 25th save of the season.
"I wouldn't really say [Maine] had our number necessarily," said Victorino, who hit his seventh homer of the season. "Of course, his record probably shows it against us. It's just sometimes the way the ball rolls. You can't find a way to beat a guy."
"Early, we hit some balls real hard that got caught," Manuel said. "But Maine, he's a gamer. He's got a good fastball and he stayed on us. For some reason, he pitches good against us. But at the same time, he's got talent."
Madson (2-1), who had allowed just three runs in his previous 26 innings, gave up a three-run home run to Jose Reyes in the sixth inning, giving the Mets all the cushion they would need to close out their eighth win in 12 games against the Phillies this season.
The Mets have won all three series this season, and could win a fourth today.
"I know somebody wants to run away with it, but both teams are going to battle, both teams are good," Victorino said. "We're going to go out there and keep battling." *
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