Phils Homer Past Mets

Jimmy Rollins and Scott Rolen homered in the 11th inning Tuesday night to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-6 victory over the New York Mets and into a first-place tie in the NL East. Winning for only the fourth time in 12 games, the Phillies drew even with Atlanta for the first time in 11 days. The Braves lost 7-0 to Montreal. Rollins, who went 4-for-6, pulled a 2-1 pitch from Donne Wall (0-4) over the right-center field fence for his 11th home run.

After Marlon Anderson walked, Rolen, who missed the last four games with a strained ribcage, connected for his 18th of the year.

Cliff Politte (1-2) pitched two hitless innings for his first victory since last Sept. 28 against the Chicago Cubs.

With closer Jose Mesa serving the first game of a two-game suspension for hitting St. Louis` Jim Edmonds with a pitch on Aug. 19, Ricky Bottalico stepped in and got three outs for his third save in five chances.

New York lost for just the third time in 10 games.

Anderson`s two-out, RBI single off Mets reliever John Franco in the eighth inning tied it at 6.

Trailing 5-3 in the seventh, the Mets rallied against former teammates Dennis Cook and Turk Wendell.

Pinch-hitter Mark Johnson singled with one out, chasing rookie starter Brandon Duckworth.

Cook, traded along with Wendell by the Mets on July 27, came on and allowed Matt Lawton`s second double of the game, moving Johnson to third.

Wendell relieved and gave up an RBI single to Edgardo Alfonzo before walking Mike Piazza.

Robin Ventura`s two-run single off Eddie Oropesa put the Mets ahead 6-5.

But Rolen saved at least two more runs with a sparkling play, robbing Tsuyoshi Shinjo of extra bases with a backhanded dive and forcing Piazza at the plate with an accurate throw.

Anderson capped Philadelphia`s four-run second against Glendon Rusch with a two-out, two-run double.

Rey Ordonez`s two-run single with two outs in the bottom half cut it to 4-2.

Shinjo doubled with two outs in the sixth and scored on Jay Payton`s single, but Mets reliever Grant Roberts balked home a run in the seventh to make it 5-3.

Duckworth allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He is unbeaten in five big league starts.

Rusch, winless in six starts since beating Florida on July 25, had another rough outing. He gave up four runs on six hits and threw 92 pitches in just 3 1-3 innings.

Rusch walked four, including Duckworth with the bases loaded in the second inning for his first career RBI.

Roberts kept the Mets in the game, getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth and retiring nine straight after coming in. He allowed just one run and one hit in 3 2-3 innings, striking out four.

Notes:
Anderson extended his hitting streak to nine games, matching a career high. ... Rollins stole his NL-leading 42nd base in the first inning. He has been caught only three times, once by a catcher. The other two came on pickoff throws by the pitcher. ... The Mets are 5-3 on their 13-game homestand, their longest of the season. ... New York is 6-8 against the Phillies this year.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News