“Sweep” Victory -- Blanton Outduels Santana, Mets

Phils bring out the brooms to complete sweep of rival-Mets

By DAN STAMM

Updated 5:00 PM EST, Sun, Jul 5, 2009

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Getty Images

The Phillies Joe Blanton pitched four-hit ball as the team rode their third-straight quality start to beat the New York Mets and their ace Johan Santana 2-0.

Blanton pitched into the eighth inning and got run support from Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley who each homered off Santana.

The win kept the Phils atop the National League East rival and four games ahead of the third-place Mess (whoops I mean Mets).

The Phils lost 12 of 15 and returned home after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, but took advantage of the injury-ravaged Mets to earn their first sweep at home since taking three straight from the Nationals in May.

Blanton (5-4) dazzled early. He retired the first seven Mets before Luis Castillo bounced a single over third baseman Pedro Feliz's head. Castillo was sacrificed to second, but stranded there on a diving stop by Ryan Howard, one of several fine fielding plays by the first baseman.

The righty allowed little else, striking out five and lowering his ERA to 4.69. The only real time he was challenged was in the sixth inning after an 11-pitch walk to Daniel Murphy. But, Blanton escaped by getting David Wright to ground into a double play, started by Utley.

Rollins batted only .169 during a recent 24-game stretch in which the Phils went 7-17. But as J-Roll’s go so do the Phightins. He keyed Sunday's win with his 30th career leadoff homer, on Santana's (9-7) second pitch.

The 2007 NL MVP was 7-for-14 with a homer and three doubles after a career-worst 0-for-28 slump that included a four-game benching during the road trip.

Utley connected with two outs in the sixth.

Phils closer Brad Lidge struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn his 16th save (third straight).

And there was a familiar face back in the Phillies bullpen. Left-hander Scott Eyre was activated from the disabled list before Sunday's game.

The Phils will open a four-game series Monday with Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.