Phillies' rally falls short, lose to Mets 5-3
PHILADELPHIA - David Buchanan was nine outs away from taking over as the team leader in wins before things fell apart.
Slumping Anthony Recker hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer, Jonathon Niese pitched seven sharp innings and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 Monday.
Darin Ruf hit a two-run shot for the last-place Phillies.
Buchanan (6-6) allowed three runs and four hits in six-plus innings. He had a 2-1 lead entering the seventh before walking Juan Lagares and allowing a tying RBI double to Matt den Dekker.
"That late in a game, you can't walk guys to start an inning," Buchanan said. "You never want to get pulled, but our bullpen has been lights-out."
On a staff that includes Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and A.J. Burnett, the rookie right-hander is tied for most wins even though he's spent much of the year in the minors. Buchanan figures to have a rotation spot locked up for next year.
"He's shown an ability to make adjustments out there and not get too flustered," manager Ryne Sandberg said.
Niese (6-8) gave up two runs on five hits to earn his first win since June 28. The lefty was 0-4 with a 6.04 ERA in his previous five starts.
Recker was in an 0-for-18 skid when he connected off reliever Justin De Fratus, who had retired 17 straight batters before allowing a single to the first batter he faced after replacing Buchanan in the seventh.
Buchanan ran into trouble when he walked Juan Lagares to start the seventh. Matt den Dekker lined an RBI double to right-center to tie it at 2. De Fratus entered and gave up a single to Wilmer Flores.
Recker then hit a full-count fastball 424 feet into the left-center field stands to make it 5-2.
With two outs in the Phillies ninth, pinch-hitter Chase Utley lined a 1-2 pitch off Jeurys Familia deep to right. A fan reached over with his cap and lifted the ball into the air and into the stands. The hit was initially ruled a two-run homer, but was overturned to an RBI double following a replay.
Ben Revere then flied out to end it.
The Mets took three of four in the wraparound series and are 13-3 in their last 16 games in Philadelphia.
The Phillies' bullpen had allowed one earned run in 24 2-3 innings before Recker, a .187 hitter, took De Fratus deep.
Daniel Murphy led off the fourth with a double to right and David Wright followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Ruf hit a two-run homer into the bushes behind the center-field wall to make it 2-1 in the bottom half.
"I just want to take advantage of the opportunities," Ruf said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: Former Phillies catcher Darren Daulton was treated and released from a nearby hospital Sunday after falling ill at Citizens Bank Park. Daulton, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, participated in the team's alumni weekend.
UP NEXT
Phillies: Philadelphia visits the Los Angeles Angels for a two-game interleague series. Right-hander Jerome Williams, claimed off waivers Sunday, will start Tuesday night against left-hander C.J. Wilson (8-8, 4.82). Williams was 2-5 with a 6.71 ERA for Texas and Houston this season. He set career highs in games (37), starts (25), innings pitched (169 1-3) and strikeouts (107) last season with the Angels.
GLOVE WORK
Phillies second baseman Andres Blanco made an excellent play to rob den Dekker on a hard one-hopper in the fourth. The ball was already past Blanco on the right-field grass when he made a diving stab, got up and threw him out.
IN A PINCH
Utley is 20 for 57 (.351) in his career as a pinch-hitter with three doubles and five homers.