What a bunch of zeroes.
No, that’s not a description of the three-time defending NL East champions — just jaw-dropping bewilderment over what the Mets accomplished in three games against the Phillies.
The humiliation ended last night with the Phillies spanked and blanked for a third straight game, 3-0 by the Mets at Citi Field.
The three-game shutout was the Mets’ first against an opponent since Sept. 26-28 of 1969 (also against the Phillies).
“To think we held that team to no runs over three games,” Jeff Francoeur said. “I might never see that again while I’m playing against that kind of team.”
The Mets (25-23) won their fifth straight and moved within two games of the NL East lead. Tonight, they begin a six-game road trip through Milwaukee and San Diego before returning to the comfort of home cooking.
“We have to take this attitude on the road and perform there just as we have performed at home,” said manager Jerry Manuel, whose Mets are 6-14 on the road.
The Mets arrived home a week ago with Manuel’s job security firmly in question, but departed last night after winning five of six against the Yankees and Phillies and thinking in terms of first place instead of a managerial axing.
In his third straight terrific start — which also included victories over the Braves and Yankees — Mike Pelfrey (7-1) allowed three hits over seven shutout innings with five walks and five strikeouts. The right-hander had runners on base for most of the game, but the Mets turned three double plays behind him. Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez each pitched a scoreless inning behind Pelfrey.
“The offense has been putting some runs on the board, which as a starting pitcher makes you feel good,” Pelfrey said.
Both Pelfrey and Francoeur noted the energy of the 35,903 in attendance that weathered a rain delay of nearly two hours. Pelfrey said it was probably the most emotion he’s felt for a Mets’ home game since the final day of the 2008 season.
“There’s energy in the crowd and as players you feed off that,” Pelfrey said. “The energy was huge.”
Ahead 1-0 in the seventh, the Mets could taste the sweep as Jose Reyes’ shot to left field nestled into the corner for a two-run double and ended Cole Hamels’ night.
Francoeur singled leading off the inning before third baseman Placido Polanco booted Fernando Tatis’ grounder, putting two runners aboard for the sizzling Reyes, who finished 3-for-4 to complete a 12-for-27 (.444) homestand. Hamels (5-3) allowed two earned runs over 6 1/3 innings.
Jason Bay’s RBI double in the first got the Mets a quick run. Reyes reached on an infield single and went to second on Luis Castillo’s ground out before Bay hit a shot off the left-field fence.
The Phillies had a great opportunity against Pelfrey in the third, putting runners on the corners with one out before Polanco hit into an inning-ending double play.
An inning later, Jayson Werth hit into an inning-ending double play. Wilson Valdez completed the trifecta by hitting into a double play to end the fifth.
“To go 5-1 against the two teams that went to the World Series last year is not bad,” Francoeur said. “And really it was a good 5-1.”