Mental Error Dooms Phils

A mental mistake cost the Philadelphia Phillies another game at a crucial time. Derrek Lee broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-out double, and Matt Clement pitched seven strong innings, leading the Florida Marlins over the Phillies 3-2 Saturday night. Philadelphia, which had won six of seven, remained a half-game behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East. The Braves lost 7-3 to the New York Mets. The Marlins, 3-12 against the Phillies this season, had lost eight straight at Veterans Stadium since last Sept. 16.

Jose Santiago (2-4) retired the first two batters in the eighth before Luis Castillo hit an infield single. Santiago failed to cover first in time on the slow bouncer to Travis Lee.

Castillo left after twisting his left ankle on the bag during a pickoff attempt. Lee hit the next pitch down the right-field line, scoring pinch-runner Dave Berg to make it 3-2.

"We got beat by a mental mistake," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "That's what beat us. It's tough to lose a game that way. Physical mistakes you can accept. From the first day of spring training, you're taught to get over when the ball is hit to the right side."

Mental miscues have really hurt the Phillies this month. After beating Montreal 4-1 on Sept. 1 to move into a tie for first, Philadelphia lost four straight to fall three games behind the Braves.

One of the losses came when Santiago failed to catch a routine throw back to the mound, allowing the go-ahead run to score in a 10-7 loss to the Mets on Sept. 3. Santiago didn't think he did anything wrong this time.

"I was in time," he said. "I thought Travis was going to take it himself. He was close to me. It was a big part of the game."

Clement (9-10) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. Vic Darensbourg and Juan Acevedo worked the eighth, and Antonio Alfonseca finished with a perfect ninth for his 27th save in 32 chances.

Darensbourg and Acevedo escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to preserve the one-run lead.

Doug Glanville reached first on an infield single with one out. Bobby Abreu hit a double to put runners on second and third.

After Scott Rolen was intentionally walked, Darensbourg struck out Marlon Anderson. Acevedo came in and retired Pat Burrell on a shallow fly to center. Burrell is 11-for-24 with 33 RBIs with the bases loaded.

"I was just trying to pound him inside early, threw him a fastball up and he missed it," Darensbourg said about Anderson's at-bat.

Cliff Floyd's two-run homer off Robert Person in the sixth tied it at 2. Person retired nine straight before Lee doubled. Floyd then drilled a 2-1 pitch to deep center for his 31st homer.

"He's a real tough pitcher." Floyd said. "He always finds a way to get it done. He gives you a pitch to hit. But if you miss it, you're done."

Person, 11-1 since losing to the New York Mets on June 5, allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings. He has lowered his ERA from 4.92 to 3.97 since the All-Star break.

"It's frustrating," Person said. "We can't just rely on the fact we've dominated them."

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first when Abreu hit a two-out, broken-bat triple and scored on a wild pitch.

A sacrifice fly by Travis Lee made it 2-0 in the second. Anderson and Burrell started the inning with singles before Preston Wilson made a twisting, backhand catch to rob Lee of extra bases on a shot to center.

Clement, who left his last start after four innings because of tightness in his arm, didn't allow a runner past second after the second inning.

"They're a great team and they've had a great season," Clement said. "It feels good to go in, get a win and be a spoiler.

Notes: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins hit into his fifth double play in his 605th at-bat in the third inning. ... Floyd extended his hitting streak to 10 games and reached 100 RBIs for the first time in his career with the two-run homer. He has three homers and eight RBIs in 21 at-bats against Person. ... Wilson's career-high hitting streak was snapped at 13.

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Author: AP