Phillies  4    Mets  1

Recap: NY Mets vs. Philadelphia

Sports Network | August 23, 2009

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - J.A. Happ continued a tremendous rookie campaign with seven innings of one-run ball, and Chase Utley connected for a go-ahead two-run homer in a three-run sixth, as Philadelphia recorded a 4-1 win against the Mets.

Pedro Feliz had an RBI double and walked twice, while Carlos Ruiz provided an insurance run with a sac fly for the Phillies, who had a four-game winning streak broken in the opener to this four-game series on Friday. Philadelphia has still won nine of 11 games.

Happ (10-2) scattered eight hits, walked two and struck out one, moving to 3-0 in his last four starts. The 26-year-old lefty has allowed only four runs in that span, covering 29 2/3 innings. Brad Lidge retired the Mets in order in the ninth for his 24th save.

"Happ's a battler. He stays out there and...grinds it out. He did that again tonight and ended up pitching a great game," said Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel.

Omir Santos drove in New York's lone run with an RBI single in the second for the Mets, who have dropped four of the last six.

Tim Redding, pitching in the recently released Livan Hernandez's spot in the rotation, tossed five superb innings and held the Phillies to just a single hit while walking three and fanning four. It was his first start since July 2.

"It's funny how this game works out sometimes. The days you feel the best and you're commanding all your pitches are the day you have the leashes on you," said Redding, who was on a pitch count. "I was tired. I hadn't thrown more than 50 pitches in over a month."

Redding exited with a precarious 1-0 lead, but reliever Pat Misch (0-1), who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo before the game, walked Shane Victorino to start the sixth and surrendered a two-run homer to Utley into the right-field seats.

"It's a big park. I'd say it's one of the bigger ones in the league, but for most of us up here, you put the barrel on it and hit it well -- it's going to pretty much go anyway," said Utley of his home run.

Misch gave way to Sean Green after retiring Ryan Howard, and Green set down Jayson Werth before Raul Ibanez and Feliz strung together consecutive doubles to make it a 3-1 game.

Happ was left in to bat for himself and ended the frame on a groundout with two aboard but proceeded to strand a runner in each of the next two innings.

Philadelphia then lengthened its lead to 4-1 in the eighth on a sac fly by Ruiz with the bases full and one out. Pedro Feliciano loaded them up, and Brian Stokes limited the damage to only Ruiz's deep fly to center by inducing a weak pop fly from Jimmy Rollins to end the inning.

Ryan Madson struck out two of the three batters faced in a pristine eighth. and Lidge did the same in the ninth to secure the victory.

New York went up by a 1-0 margin in the second inning on a two-out single through the left side by Santos. Jeff Francoeur doubled leading off, and Fernando Tatis followed with a walk. Daniel Murphy grounded into a double play, but Santos scored Francoeur with a chopper that deflected off Feliz's glove and into shallow left field.

New York honored the 40th anniversary of the 1969 World Series team prior to the game. Among the former '69 Mets on hand were Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Ed Kranepool, Jerry Grote, Gary Gentry, Wayne Garrett, Ed Charles, Al Weis and Nolan Ryan...Happ's 10 wins leads all NL rookies...Utley's home run was his 26th of the season...New York is now 4-5 on an 11-game homestand...Utley was 2-for-4 with a walk for Philadelphia, while Werth doubled twice in the win...The Mets were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while the Phils stranded 12 runners and left the bases loaded twice...Luis Castillo and Angel Pagan had two hits apiece in defeat for New York...Mets reliever J.J. Putz is scheduled for a rehab appearance on Tuesday for the Single-A New York Penn League club.