Mets end Phillies' run at 11

During the day Saturday, attendants installed plastic coverings above every locker in the Phillies clubhouse. They were rolled up, ready to deploy when needed to protect personal belongings from champagne stains - and conveniently served as a constant reminder as to how close the Phillies are to the postseason.

"I think we've been around it enough that it's not much of a factor," righthander Chad Durbin said after a 5-2 loss to the Mets. "We're aware of it."

For 11 games, the Phillies rolled and needed to pay little attention to anything around them. The last time they lost, also against the Mets on Sept. 11, they were tied for first place in the National League East.

Now, with seven games to play, they have a six-game lead. Their magic number is two, meaning their fourth straight division crown could be clinched at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday. It will require not only a Phillies win but also a Braves loss at Washington.

"We're close," Kyle Kendrick said. "It's right around the corner. It's exciting."

That was about the only silver lining the Phillies left the ballpark with on Saturday. They led 2-0 after the first inning, only to be held scoreless for the next eight innings by Dillon Gee - the Mets righthander making his fourth major-league start - along with Elmer Dessens and Hisanori Takahashi.

The last time the Phillies lost a game in which they scored first was July 19 in St. Louis. Kendrick started that night, too. After that defeat, the Phillies were 48-44 and six games back of first place.

Yeah, things have changed. So much so that Saturday's result caused a feeling that could surprise even the manager.

"Actually, we got outplayed tonight," Charlie Manuel said. "It was one of those nights."

Manuel hasn't had to say that for some time.

"I hope this don't happen too often," he said. "We'll start something tomorrow."

The Mets didn't have a runner on second base until the seventh. That's when the game turned. Kendrick had allowed just three singles in six innings but needed Shane Victorino to make several catches deep in center field to preserve the shutout.

With runners on first and second and one out, Angel Pagan hit a hard grounder to first that took a high hop and bounced off Ryan Howard's glove. Had he fielded it cleanly, it might have been an inning-ending double play.

"There's nothing you can do about it," Kendrick said.

The bases were loaded and Manuel called on Durbin, who hadn't pitched in six days. The Phillies had been such a fine-tuned winning machine that they barely needed any relievers beyond Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge.

Jerry Manuel countered with Lucas Duda, the rookie who was hitting .170 in his first 20 major-league games. He doubled into the right-center gap to clear the bases for a career-high three RBIs.

"I was trying to get it in the air or on the ground," Durbin said. "Preferably, the ground."

There was little drama after that, no Phillies comeback on this night.

There was one interesting twist: The Phillies were able to use Domonic Brown as a pinch-hitter, his first at-bat in 19 days. The rookie outfielder said before the game his strained right quadriceps is finally 100 percent. He struck out in the seventh but not before hitting a foul ball down the right-field line that just missed being a home run.

"This one's gone," Manuel said. "Ain't nothing we can do about it."