BOX SCORE
Laynce Nixs RBI double, his first hit as a Phillie, capped a two-run seventh inning and the run-starved Phillies enjoyed a rare laugher Sunday afternoon, beating the Mets 8-2 at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies were 1-for-17 in the series with runners in scoring position before Nix belted an 0-2 pitch from reliever Ramon Ramirez off the left-field wall with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Hunter Pence from second and breaking a 2-all tie.
The Mets, who won the first two games of the series 5-2 and 5-0, were trying to sweep the Phillies in Philly for the first time since 2006.
The Phils managed only one run in seven innings off Mets starter Mike Pelfrey and went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-1. They took the lead on base hits by Jimmy Rollins and Pence, a wild pitch, Ty Wiggintons sac fly and Nixs double, which was fair by about a foot.
The rally made a winner out of Cole Hamels, who gave up a two-run homer to Ike Davis in the first, then allowed no runs and just four hits the rest of his seven-inning stint. Hamels (1-1) walked one and struck out 10.
The Phillies improved to 4-5, and the Mets fell to 5-3.
Starting Pitching Report
Hamels recorded his 19th career double-digit strikeout game, fourth-most in franchise history behind Steve Carlton (70), Curt Schilling (48) and Jim Bunning (25). Since Hamels came into the league, only five pitchers have more double-digit strikeout games -- Tim Lincecum (31), Johan Santana (26), C.C. Sabatha (23), Justin Verlander (20) and Jake Peavy (20).
Pelfrey needed 40 pitches to get through the first two innings. He allowed six of the first 10 batters he faced to reach base, but settled down to allow one run in seven innings.
Bullpen report
Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless eighth and Jonathan Papelbon a scoreless ninth, although Papelbon did load the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk before ending the game by fanning Justin Turner -- the 12th strikeout by Phils pitchers.
Qualls, the veteran righty now with his fifth team in six years, has not allowed a run in four innings over four games this year.
The Mets bullpen allowed seven runs (two earned), six hits and two walks in two innings.
At the plate
Thanks to their five-run eighth, the Phillies scored a season-high eight runs and tied their season high with 14 hits.
Juan Pierre, making his first start since Tuesday, went 3-for-5, boosting his average from .250 to .350, and Rollins reached base three times with two singles and a walk. Ty Wigginton had a two-run double and his first four-RBI game since last April with the Rockies.
After taking a 3-2 lead in the seventh, the Phillies added five unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth.
In the field
Nix nearly made a miraculous catch of a foul ball off the bat of Ruben Tejada in the third. Tejada hit a soft liner well foul and beyond first. Nix, playing in only his 10th career game at first, stretched out and made an all-out dive for the ball and gloved it, only to lose the ball when he thudded to the ground. Nix received a warm ovation for his effort.
On the Bases
Baserunning blunder by Pierre, who was thrown out trying to steal third with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and Rollins at the plate with a 3-2 count. He was the first Phillie thrown out trying to steal this year after 10 straight successful attempt, including a double-steal by Pence and Rollins in the first.
Attendance
With 45,829 tickets sold, the Phillies recorded their 210th consecutive regular-season sellout (226 in a row, including postseason) and the sixth-largest regular-season crowd in stadium history.
Up next
Scheduled starters Tuesday are Joe Blanton and lefty Madison Bumgarner and on Wednesday it will be Cliff Lee vs. Matt Cain. All three games are slated for 10:15 p.m. EST.
The Phillies then have four games against the Padres at Petco Park in San Diego and three vs. the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix before finally getting a day off April 26.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com
