Phils slam Santana in fourth, roll over Mets

Baseball Betting Lines

05/02/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane Victorino's grand slam highlighted a relentless two-out rally in the fourth that produced nine runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies handed Johan Santana the worst start of his career in a 11-5 thumping of the New York Mets.

The fourth inning featured two home runs, 13 batters and a stretch of nine consecutive hitters reaching base, including a crucial bases-loaded walk by pitcher Jamie Moyer (3-2). The Phillies went from down three to ahead by six, a lead they would never relinquish.

Chase Utley hit a two-run shot in the huge inning, while Ryan Howard and Placido Polanco each had a solo homer for the Phillies, who have scored more runs in the last two games (21) than the previous six (20).

Moyer, aside from finishing 1-for-2 from the plate, gave up five runs and six hits in six frames, as Philadelphia won for the third time in four games. He has now pitched at least six innings in eight straight starts.

Every batter that reached base against Santana (3-2) scored, as the Mets' ace lefty gave up a career-worst 10 runs on eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 frames. Santana, whose previous worst was nine runs given up against the Yankees on June 14, 2009, saw his earned un average increase from 2.08 to 4.50.

Prior to Sunday's start, Santana had given up just seven runs in 30 1/3 innings. He had also given up one home run in five April starts prior to yielding four in this contest.

David Wright hit a three-run homer, and Rod Barajas hit a two-run shot for the Mets, who have lost two straight on the heels of an eight-game win streak. They also fell a half-game back of the first-place Phillies in the NL East.

Barajas' two-run homer gave the Mets a 5-2 lead in the fourth, but the Phillies put together an incredible two-out rally in the home half to knock Santana out of the game.

Utley led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Raul Ibanez's two-out single through the right side.

Juan Castro followed with a single, and Carlos Ruiz walked on four pitches to load the bases. Moyer stepped to the plate and battled Santana for seven pitches, eventually working another walk to force in a run.

Victorino followed by blasting an 0-1 fastball over the left field wall for a grand slam, putting Philadelphia ahead, 8-5. Polanco kept the inning alive with another base hit, and Utley crushed a two-run homer to right for a 10-5 lead, prompting the Mets to replace Santana.

Hisanori Takahashi came on to pitch, but he didn't fare much better. Howard singled up the middle and scored for an 11-5 cushion when Jayson Werth became the ninth straight Phillie to reach base with a double to the gap in right- center.

The inning finally came to an end when Ibanez, who started the two-out rally, grounded out to first.

From that point on, the Mets failed to record a single hit. Moyer was perfect in the fifth and sixth; Chad Durbin threw a 1-2-3 seventh and a scoreless eighth, yielding only a two-out walk; and Danys Baez threw a perfect ninth to close out the win.

The Mets struck for three runs in the opening inning. Luis Castillo lined a one-out single to right field, and Jason Bay reached on a two-out infield single when shortstop Castro couldn't grab it with his bare hand.

Wright then worked a full count before launching the ball into the center field seats for his fifth home run of the season.

In the home half, Polanco, mired in a 3-for-34 slump over the last nine games, powered a high fastball into the left field seats to cut Philadelphia's deficit to 3-1. Two batters later, Howard blasted a 1-2 changeup to almost the same spot to make it a one-run game.

Game Notes

Santana last gave up two homers in an inning on June 9, 2009 against the Phillies. He did it twice on Sunday...Four of the last five games in which Santana has given up two or more home runs in a contest have come against the Phillies...Werth has reached base in 24 straight games to open the season, the longest such streak in Philadelphia history since Richie Hebner matched the feat in 1977...The Mets fell to 0-4 in series rubber matches...Moyer has recorded 97 wins since turning 40...Since Barajas' one year with the Phillies in 2007, he is 13-for-24 with seven homers and 15 RBI at Citizens Bank Park...The Phillies have won five straight series against the Mets...Moyer had been 0-4 in his last five home starts...The last Mets pitcher to allow 10 runs in one game was Al Leiter on May 15, 2003 against San Francisco...The Phillies have won nine of their last 11 home games against the Mets...Wright has four career home runs against Moyer, tied for the most against any pitcher...Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton will make his season debut against St. Louis on Monday after spending a month on the disabled list with an oblique injury...The Phillies have had five or more runs in four innings this season -- three of those instances occurred in the fourth inning...Howard and Polanco finished with three hits apiece, while Victorino, Utley and Werth each finished with two...This was Victorino's second career regular season grand slam.