Mets 5, Phillies 0

One day after the Mets got some fine pitching performances at the minor league level (see below) and some not-so-fine ones at the major league level, the big-leaguers got back on track as Steve Trachsel went up against the Phillies' ace and outpitched him. The Mets got to Kevin Millwood early, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning thanks to three doubles. The top of the lineup looked downright ugly on paper, but Roger Cedeno doubled to lead off the game, and Rey Sanchez hit one of his own to drive in Cedeno. Sanchez was out at third when Ty Wigginton hit into a fielder's choice, but Jeromy Burnitz doubled deep to left center to bring in Wigginton.

In the sixth inning, it was more doubles, as Cliff Floyd made it to second only to score on Tony Clark's two-bagger.

Meanwhile, Trachsel was scattering five hits and three walks over six and two-thirds innings while striking out five. In the seventh he got himself into a bases loaded jam with two outs, but Graeme Lloyd came in to get the third out and preserve the shutout. Lloyd pitched the eighth as well and just gave up one hit while striking out one.

In the top of the eighth, the Mets tacked on two more runs when Floyd doubled to bring home Sanchez, who had walked, and Wigginton, who had singled. Spots two, three and four in the lineup came through big for the Mets tonight, as Sanchez, Wigginton and Floyd each had two hits and the three of them scored three runs and drove in four. Overall, the Mets had five doubles on the night, and also went two of three in stolen base attemps, as Wigginton and, shockingly, Cedeno were successful, while Burnitz was thrown out.

In the ninth, Art Howe brought in Armando Benitez in a pressure-free situation and he struck out the side.

Tomorrow, the Braves come to town for a weekend series leading the Mets by twelve games, but this game is bigger than all that. It's the first head to head meeting of Tom Glavine (5-4, 4.05) and his former long-time teammate Greg Maddux (3-5, 4.99). Last weekend in Atlanta, Glavine got rocked on Saturday while Maddux shut the Mets down on Sunday. Here's hoping the Mets can turn those fortunes around in the friendly confines of Shea Stadium.  ¶ joe | 11:14 PM |