Mets-Phillies Preview

The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of New York Mets' collapses to win the last two NL East titles.

The Phillies are hoping to avoid being the ones to fold this year. Fixing their bullpen would be a step in the right direction.

After another late meltdown, Philadelphia will try to bounce back in Sunday's doubleheader against the visiting Mets.

The Phillies (80-60) hold a five-game division lead over second-place Florida, but the Mets have shown the past two years a sizable lead is far from safe -- even with three weeks remaining.

New York blew a seven-game lead with 17 games to play in 2007 and squandered a 3 1/2-game advantage with the same number of games remaining last season.

"You can be caught," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.

One way to get caught is failing to hold late leads.

A year ago, the Phillies were 89-0 when leading after eight innings, including a run to their first World Series title in 28 years. Brad Lidge converted all 48 of his save opportunities.

Lidge lost his job as the closer after his major league-worst 10th blown save last week. His replacement, Ryan Madson, hasn't proved all that reliable, either.

Madson blew his sixth save opportunity Saturday by giving up David Wright's two-run homer in the ninth inning of a 10-9 loss. Wright also hit a two-run shot off Brett Myers in the eighth during the Mets' rally and matched a career high with six RBIs.

"It's not a good feeling, but the next day you come out with the same attitude you had today," Madson said. "The only time I've ever seen anybody be perfect was Brad Lidge last year and that was amazing."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel could go back to Lidge in a closing role as soon as Sunday, but Myers is also an option after converting 21 of 24 save chances in 2007.

"(Lidge is) going to get a chance to close games out again," Manuel said. "You might see him out there tomorrow. Depends on how I feel."

Manuel will give Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 5.06 ERA) his first start of the season in Sunday's opener. Kendrick won 21 games and started 50 over the previous two years for Philadelphia but couldn't earn a spot in the rotation this season, spending most of it at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before being recalled Sept. 6.

"It's only one start, but it would be nice to show what I learned and what I accomplished," said Kendrick, who is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts against New York.

In the finale, Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.64) will try to earn his second win in three weeks over the team which he spent the previous four seasons. The former Mets starter allowed four runs over six innings in a 9-7 win in New York on Aug. 23.

The Phillies have won all six starts Martinez has made since he came off the disabled last month and he won a second straight outing Tuesday night, going 6 2/3 solid innings in a 5-3 win at Washington.

Losers in five of seven during a miserable season, the Mets (63-79) will counter with John Maine (5-4, 4.52) and Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78).

Maine will make his first start since going on the disabled list June 12 with right shoulder fatigue. He's 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA in nine career starts against the Phillies.

Redding comes off his first loss since returning to the rotation as he gave up four runs in five innings in a 4-2 home defeat to Florida on Tuesday night. He has a 2.25 ERA in two starts this season against the Phillies but has not received a decision.

Despite Saturday's loss, Philadelphia has won 10 of 12 over the Mets.