Phillies Strike First, Win Series-Opener Vs. Mets

Flushing, NY (AHN) - Are the New York Mets hearing the footsteps of the Philadelphia Phillies once again?

The Phillies closed the gap in the NL East to just two games after blanking the Mets 3-0 Friday night.

Brett Myers was magnificent, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing just three hits over eight frames to improve to 9-10.

Brad Lidge had a hiccup in the ninth in letting up a pair of hits, but settled down to record his 34th save.

The Mets, who blew a huge lead in the division last season to the Phils, swear they just ran into a hot pitcher Friday night.

If Philly sweeps this series the division will be tied and the Mets heart, or lack thereof, will be questioned again.

Spark-plug David Murphy had a pair of hits for New York, raising his batting average to .366 in his stint in the Big Apple.

The rest of the Mets offense was rotten to the core, as the six-through-nine batters combined to go hitless in 12 at-bats.

The Mets wasted a fine start by pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, but allowed Greg Dobbs' two-run homer in the seventh.

The Phils took a 1-0 lead in the first on Chase Utley's RBI grounder that scored Shane Victorino.