Left photograph of David Wright tapping the helmet of Carlos Beltran, who hit a two-run home run during the first inning, by Julie Jacobson; right photograph of Mariano Rivera in the dugout after giving up back-to-back home runs by Bill Kostroun/AP
- Mets 7 Philadelphia 5: Things got a bit dicey, but the Mets got the sweep in an abbreviated series. Beltran, Wright and Reyes all homered and Pelfrey pitched seven solid. They are over .500 and on a four-game winning streak. The Mets are only a ½ game back of the division lead and with Pittsburgh in this weekend, they have an excellent chance to move into first.
- Tampa Bay 8 Yankees 6: They keep finding new ways to lose, but Thursday’s method was especially painful. After tying things up in the 8th, thanks to a home run from Damon, Mariano Rivera gave up back-to-back homers for the first time in his career. The Yankees couldn’t rally in their half of the inning and now they head to Baltimore two-games under .500, but with A-Rod coming back to the lineup.
