Homers From Baxter, Hairston Not Enough As Mets Drop Series Finale To Phils
PHILADELPHIA (CBSNewYork/AP) — A little pop-up caused a lot of trouble for the New York Mets -- and it didn't work out so well for the Philadelphia Phillies, either.
Pitcher Jonathon Niese dropped a routine pop-up that forced Phillies star Jimmy Rollins to shift from a jog to a sprint toward first base.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel benched Rollins because of the missing hustle, a move that overshadowed Philadelphia's 3-2 win over the Mets on Thursday.
"It's got to be somebody's ball," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "There's got to be somebody taking charge. Nobody was policing it."
The confusion didn't cost the Mets any runs, thanks to a pair of baserunning blunders by Rollins in the sixth inning. He was pulled for the start of the seventh inning after his mistakes.
The former National League MVP failed to run hard on a dropped pop-up that could have put him on second base. He stole second base, but was then caught in a rundown on a grounder and tagged out.
Rollins drew the ire of Phillies fans earlier this month when he jogged down the line on a grounder in a game at Miami. He met privately with Manuel the next day. Manuel refused to bench his All-Star shortstop then, but he had no hesitation against the Mets.
Kyle Kendrick (8-9) allowed solo homers in the first two innings to Mike Baxter and Scott Hairston, but did not permit another run before leaving with two outs in the eighth.
Jonathan Papelbon tossed a scoreless ninth for his 30th save as the Phillies avoided a three-game sweep.
Kendrick retired 13 straight starting in the fourth inning and won his fourth straight start. Kendrick has more wins than Cliff Lee (three) and as many as Roy Halladay (eight). Kendrick struck out six and walked none.
Kendrick left to a standing ovation with runners on first and second in the eighth.
Raul Valdes needed one pitch to retire Ike Davis on a grounder.
Rollins got fans talking after his latest baserunning gaffes. He popped up and appeared to be making a turn toward the dugout until Niese dropped the ball for an error. Rollins then dashed to first.
With Kendrick on third and Rollins on second, Kevin Frandsen hit a grounder to second. Rollins took off for third with Kendrick staying on the base and was tagged out.
It was the latest blunder in a disappointing season for the Phillies. Rollins has been chewed out and benched by Manuel in the past for not hustling. When he did it twice in one inning, Manuel saw enough and yanked him.
The Phillies are far removed from the franchise that won the last five NL East titles. Their lineup against Niese (10-8) seemed more appropriate for Spring Training. Ty Wigginton in left field and Michael Martinez in right field were the starting corner outfielders. Catcher Steven Lerud made his Major League debut and Frandsen started at third.
Niese, who had the flu earlier this week, gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings.
"I just didn't feel like I had much energy, but I battled through it," he said.
The Mets snapped a four-game winning streak. They finished 7-2 at Citizens Bank Park and won three series of at least three games this season in Philadelphia.
"We're going in a positive direction," Niese said.
Baxter connected on the second pitch of the game for his first career leadoff homer. Hairston hit a solo shot, his 15th, in the second.
Frandsen had an RBI single in the third and Wigginton tied it with a double in the fourth. Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly in the fifth put the Phillies up 3-2.
NOTES: Phillies INF Hector Luna was outrighted off the 40-man roster and has elected free agency. The Phillies are now at 39 players on the 40-man roster ... Baxter hit the third leadoff homer for the Mets this season ... Mets relievers have pitched 16 1/3 scoreless innings.
Looks like a 20-game winning streak wasn't in the cards for the Amazins'. Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...
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