SO TAGUCHI'S vocabulary is not as extensive as many major league ballplayers. One of the only Japanese imports who eschews the use of a translator, the Phillies outfielder instead taught himself how to speak English using such American cartoons as "Finding Nemo" as study aids.

But Taguchi knows full well the meaning of the word "perfect," and after the Phillies' 6-4 loss to the Mets last night, he says that he witnessed it personified.

"I would say he was perfect," Taguchi said.

"He" would be Johan Santana, a man who needs no introduction to anybody who was conscious this past offseason. When the Mets swung a blockbuster deal to acquire the two-time Cy Young winner from the Minnesota Twins in early February, they did so with nights like this in mind.

Against a Phillies lineup that had a grand total of five at-bats off him, Santana sparkled: He struck out 10, walked none and allowed one hit in his first six innings before giving up three runs on three hits in the seventh and eighth.

It was apparent from the very beginning that the Phillies were facing a phenomenon the likes of whom they had not yet seen. The first batter struck out, then the third, then the fourth, and the seventh, and the ninth, 10th and 11th. Eight of the first 13 Phillies at-bats ended that way, as Santana spent the early part of the evening painting both corners of the plate.

"I think mostly he was hitting his locations very well, keeping the ball down – he was hitting the corners of the plate," said Chase Utley, who went 1-for-4 and struck out twice. "I think that's what he did best."

As these Phillies tend to do, they found a way to make it interesting. Carlos Ruiz and Eric Bruntlett both singled to start the eighth, chasing Santana and bringing on Aaron Heilman, who allowed a three-run home run to Greg Dobbs that cut the Mets' lead to 5-4.

Geoff Jenkins gave a sold-out Citizens Bank Park a few seconds to believe as he followed Dobbs' shot with a towering fly to deep centerfield that petered out at the warning track.

Jenkins thought he might have gotten enough of it. Might have.

"It wasn't one of those ones that you knew for sure," said the outfielder, who did not start, but pinch-hit for Taguchi.

After Dobbs' shot, Heilman, Pedro Feliciano and former Phillie Billy Wagner retired six straight to end the game.

"They got a good lead on us and we couldn't catch them," manager Charlie Manuel said.

The other lefthander in this much-hyped duel left the game with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. On many nights, Cole Hamels' performance would have been enough.

He allowed five runs on eight hits, struck out four and walked three.

His first run was unearned, thanks to a first-inning passed ball that allowed Ryan Church to advance to second, putting him in position to score on a double off the leftfield wall by David Wright.

The second came in the third inning, as centerfielder Jayson Werth couldn't make a sliding catch of a ball hit by Wright. The ball bounced under Werth and rolled into deep centerfield, allowing Wright to scamper all the way to third, scoring Jose Reyes.

That was it until the eighth, when he gave up a single to Church, a double to Wright, and intentionally walked Carlos Beltran before giving way to J.C. Romero.

All three eventually scored, giving the Mets just enough cushion to withstand the Phillies' rally in the bottom half of the frame.

Wright finished 4-for-4 with a single, two doubles and a triple and 2 RBI.

Heading into the game, Wright was only 1-for-11 vs. Hamels.

"I've had some success off him," said Hamels, who fell to 2-2. "I guess he evened the odds."

But the story of the night was the performance of Santana, who recorded his 40th career double-digit strikeout game and his first of the season and improved to 2-2.

The Phillies? Well, they can take solace in the fact that they won't have the misfortune of facing him for at least 2 months. The next Phillies-Mets series runs July 4-6 at Citizens Bank Park.

With 69 games between now and then, it's safe to say the stakes will be a lot higher the next time the Phillies could possibly face Santana.

When that next showdown occurs – and with four series remaining, it will occur – the Phillies think they'll be better prepared to deal with the lefthander.

"I think the first time facing him, some of them didn't really know too much about him," Manuel said. "They didn't know exactly where he was coming from. Then again, this guy threw fastballs and he had good poise and good command. He'll give you something to hit if you are patient."

Phillers

General manager Pat Gillick said although Jimmy Rollins will be available today, he does not expect the star shortstop to return to the lineup until tomorrow. Rollins has missed nine straight games with a sprained left ankle...Charlie Manuel said he urged Ryan Howard, who entered hitting only .211, to move up in the batter's box before the game, but Howard told the manager afterward he felt as if it made him easier to jam. The first baseman struck out twice against Johan Santana and went 0-for-4 to fall to .197. *

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.