Mets Shell-Shock Hamels, Hand Phillies First Loss

By Justin Worsley,

The New York Mets offense exploded for six runs in the third inning and the Philadelphia Phillies were unable to get their offense rolling as New York won 7-1 to hand the Phillies their first loss of the season.

The Mets (3-1) sent former San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young to the mound in his first Mets start. Young threw five and 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out seven, but his bat will be talked about more than his pitching.

Young became the first pitcher in Mets history to record two hits in the same inning when New York broke the game open in the third inning. After Cole Hamels pitched his way out of a jam in the first inning, he was unable to conjure up the same magic as New York went through their entire rotation in the third and Hamels was pulled from the game by manager Charlie Manuel.

Young got on base with a single down the left side of the infield and was put into scoring position after Jose Reyes safely bunted. Hamels walked Angel Pagan to load the bases and David Wright hit a two-RBI single just out of Jimmy Rollins' reach to put the Mets on the board.

Pagan crossed home plate after Carlos Ruiz was unable to field a pitch delivered by Hamels. Back-to-back singles by Ike Davis and rookie Brad Emaus drove in two more runs and Young hit another single down the left side of the infield to drive in the Mets final run of the inning.

Placido Polanco hit an RBI double in the fifth inning to put Philadelphia on the board, but the Mets quickly responded with an RBI single to deep left field by Scott Hairston.

Hamels pitched just two and 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs off of seven hits and three strikeouts as the Phillies (3-1) failed to open the season 4-0. Kyle Kendrick, one of the Phillies starting pitchers last season, relieved Hamels as Philadelphia relied on their bullpen to bail them out.

Game two of the three game series goes on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Joe Blanton is expected to make his first start of the season against the Mets Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 10.38 ERA)