Niese, Wright lead Mets over Phillies
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jonathon Niese and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, David Wright homered despite a broken finger and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 on Saturday.
Niese (2-0) allowed five hits and struck out five in 6 2-3 innings. Bobby Parnell got four outs and Jon Rauch pitched the ninth.
Wright was 3 for 5, including a long homer on the first pitch he saw after missing three games with a broken right pinkie. Lucas Duda also connected for the Mets, who are off to a surprising 6-2 start.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The five-time defending NL East champion Phillies are 3-5 and struggling offensively without All-Stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the middle of their lineup. They've scored two runs or less in five of their eight games.
Phillies starter Vance Worley (0-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings.
Wright hurt his finger diving back to a base Monday night. He finally felt well enough to return on Saturday, and made an impact right away.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Worley retired the first two batters before Wright drove one out to almost straightaway center to give the Mets the lead in the first.
The Mets tacked on three runs in the fourth. They loaded the bases with no outs on a walk and singles by Wright and Ike Davis, who was 1 for 24 to that point. One run scored when Jason Bay grounded into a double play. Duda then ripped a two-run shot to right, snapping an 0-for-15 slump with his third homer.
Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis robbed Brian Schneider of extra bases and an RBI with a sensational running catch on a drive to the warning track to end the second inning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The crowd of 45,750 was the 225th straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play. There were blue-shirted Mets fans mixed in, of course. The loudest cheers from home fans came when a New York fan was ejected from the ballpark in the ninth.
NOTES: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was honored before the game for being the winningest manager in franchise history. Manuel moved into first place on the team's list with his 646th victory on the final day of the regular season last year. ... Schneider caught Worley for the 13th consecutive start. The last time Worley didn't pitch to Schneider was last July 15 at Citi Field. ... Wright has an eight-game hitting streak. ... Wright's 16 homers at Citizens Bank Park are the most by a visiting player. ... LHP Cole Hamels (0-1) goes for the Phillies against RHP Mike Pelfrey in the series finale Sunday. Hamels is 3-10 with a 4.46 ERA in 17 career starts vs. the Mets. Pelfrey is 7-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 19 starts against the Phillies.