Flushing, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Howard drove in three runs and the Philadelphia Phillies grabbed a 7-2 win over the New York Mets in the second game of a three-game series.
Jimmy Rollins score twice, while Cody Asche was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Phillies, who have won five of six. Jerome Williams (3-0) gave up just two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings.
"Guys did the job with men on third base, key hits, sac flies. We really made the most of our opportunities with men in scoring position," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.
Juan Lagares and Wilmer Flores each drove in a run for the Mets, who have lost three of four. Bartolo Colon (12-11) gave up six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"Obviously he was getting way too much of the plate," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Colon.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Marlon Byrd led off the frame with his career-high 25th home run of the season.
Philly then batted around in the sixth to take a big lead. The first three batters hit singles to load the bases and Howard chased home two with a single. Domonic Brown and Carlos Ruiz later hit consecutive RBI singles, and Asche added an RBI base hit off of Buddy Carlyle for a 6-0 lead.
New York cut into its deficit in the seventh as a Flores base hit plated one run, and Lagares later worked a bases-loaded, two-out walk to make it a 6-2 game. Antonio Bastardo then struck out Curtis Granderson to limit the damage.
Howard's sacrifice fly in the ninth scored Rollins, and Jonathan Papelbon set the Mets down in order in the home half to finish off the game.
Game Notes
Byrd turned 37 on Saturday ... New York leads the season series, 12-6 ... Colon fell to 4-3 in nine career games against the Phillies.
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