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Phillies win 9th straight against Mets
Phil Sheridan: Utley takes four hits for team
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Phillies' Rollins sprains left ankle
Gordon settling down
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Posted on Wed, Apr. 9, 2008

Phillies Notes

Gordon settling down

NEW YORK - Tom Gordon has shown better stuff than what he had on opening day.

He allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning in that brutal 11-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on March 31. But in four appearances since, Gordon has allowed just one hit and two walks in 31/3 scoreless innings. He has struck out four.

Yesterday, he threw a perfect ninth inning and picked up his first save of the season in a 5-2 victory against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Gordon pitched the ninth because closer Brad Lidge was unavailable, having pitched Saturday and Sunday and coming off right knee surgery.

Gordon went 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in his final 15 appearances last season, during the team's stretch run.

He took plenty of heat after opening day, and some fans assumed he was finished.

That bothered him.

"I've worked really hard in this game," he said. "I know people have their opinion, and that's fine because I've had my opinions plenty of times. I try to come out here every day and be professional about what I do. You never want to go out there and have a day like I had."

Gordon initially didn't feel comfortable throwing his breaking ball. He said he felt better about that now.

"People are entitled to their opinion, but one thing I'll never do is . . . give up," he said.

The collision

Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth collided violently in right-center field as they pursued David Wright's fly ball in the fourth inning. Victorino caught the ball, but both players tumbled to the turf as Victorino suffered a self-described stinger.

They stayed in the game.

"We were both aggressive," Victorino said. "Plays like this, the fans get loud. We're yelling. I couldn't hear him. I'm sure he couldn't hear me. I saw him out of the corner of my eye. I kind of saw him coming. I just wanted to make sure I caught the ball and held onto the ball. When you're 6-5 and 5-8, who's going to win that battle? Obviously, he did."

Said Werth: When I looked up at the ball and I saw Shane, I thought he was a long way away. Shane is really fast. . . . He has a lot of speed, so it's definitely a learning experience. My fault for sure. But you don't want that ball to drop."

Paying off Helms

The Phillies are paying all of infielder Wes Helms' $2.15 million salary this season, a baseball source said. But the Florida Marlins, who acquired Helms in a trade last week, are paying his $750,000 buyout for a 2009 club option.

They love them

Mets fans heartily booed the Phillies during pregame introductions. Jimmy Rollins predictably received the loudest boos. Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Pat Burrell also received nice boos.

Extra bases

The Phillies had been 0-7 against the Mets in home openers at Shea Stadium. . . . There were a few fights in the stands, presumably between Phillies fans and Mets fans.

- Todd Zolecki