Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer, Jimmy Rollins had three hits and three steals and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 8-6 on Monday night.
The Phillies closed within 1½ games of the NL East-leading New York Mets. They remain two behind in the loss column.
“Every game is a must-win,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “We have to win more games than they do.”
Joe Blanton (2-0) pitched five shaky innings to earn his first win since Aug. 2. Blanton allowed four runs and five hits in his 10th start since Philadelphia acquired him from Oakland. Blanton really scares me as we near the home stretch of the season. Every time I checked back to the Phils game (watching MNF, some fantasy ramifications on the line) he had given up more hits and more runs. He needs to get his ass in gear if he expects to pitch in the playoffs. After averaging 1 walk per 9 IP in the AL for his career, he is now averaging 4 walks per 9 IP in the NL, an easier pitchers league, explain that.
Mets News: Billy Wagner is out for the rest of this season and will likely miss all of 2009 too.
The New York Mets closer will have surgery after an MRI on Monday showed a torn MCL in his pitching elbow has gotten worse during more than a month of rehab. His injury could send the Mets into the free-agent market for a top reliever this winter.
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