New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies Live Blog: Instant Reaction and Analysis

Despite a third consecutive blown save for closer Jonathan Papelbon, the Philadelphia Phillies managed to defeat the New York Mets on Saturday afternoon 8-7 on a pinch hit walk-off home run by Kevin Frandsen.

Early on, it was the Ryan Howard and Jonathan Pettibone show for the Phillies.

Howard’s day started off with a two-run RBI single in the first inning after back-to-back singles by Chase Utley and Michael Young.

However, Howard was just getting started. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Howard lined a solo homer to left field to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead after Jordany Valdespin cut the two-run deficit in half.  It was Howard’s ninth home run of the year.

Then, Howard hit his second homer of the day off of Mets starting pitcher Dillon Gee in the next inning. It was Howard’s seventh career home run against Gee in 15 at-bats against the Mets righty.

Michael Young also hit a homer for the Phils, while Ben Revere had an RBI single and scored when Mets catcher John Buck overthrew third baseman David Wright when Revere was attempting to steal third.

Pettibone was impressive through six innings of work, only giving up five hits and one run.

However, the game started to turn in the seventh inning, where the Mets managed to get four runs back on Phillies relievers Michael Stutes and Justin De Fratus. After Jake Diekman and Antonio Bastardo kept the game at 7-5 into the ninth, Jonathan Papelbon could not keep it that way.

After Valdespin homered to right, David Wright scored on a David Murphy single to center that was mishandled by Revere.

However, leading off the bottom of the ninth, Frandsen crushed a Carlos Torres pitch to left to end the game and send the sellout crowd home happy.  

Jonathan Papelbon earned the win for Philadelphia, while Torres was credited with the loss for the Mets.