Phils Lose 8th Straight, Longest Skid In 11 Years

NEW YORK (AP) -- With nothing left to play for in the regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies are playing as if they have nothing left.

Hunter Pence dropped a deep fly ball for an error that led to five unearned runs, and the New York Mets completed a doubleheader sweep with a 6-3 victory Saturday night that handed the NL East champions their eighth straight defeat.

Having already secured homefield advantage throughout the postseason, the sluggish Phillies remained winless since clinching their fifth consecutive division title last Saturday. The losing streak is their longest since an eight-game skid late in the 2000 season, when they finished 65-97 and last in the NL East under manager Terry Francona.

In the afternoon opener, R.A. Dickey took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and David Wright hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth as New York won 2-1.

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