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Phillies 3, Mets 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Marlon Anderson went a little too wide with his slide.

Anderson's hard takeout attempt might have been enough to bust up a double play in the ninth inning and allow the tying run to score for the New York Mets. Instead, Anderson went far outside second base, knocked down Philadelphia's Tadahito Iguchi and was ruled out on a game-ending interference call in the Phillies' 3-2 victory Wednesday night.

Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell homered, and Brett Myers survived a wild ninth to help the Phillies win their third straight game against New York and close within three games of the NL East leaders.

"I'm just glad the umpire made the call and took care of it," Iguchi said through an interpreter. "I think we were fortunate he was right on the play."

The Mets had runners on the corners with one out against Myers when pinch-hitter Shawn Green hit a slow roller to Rollins, who shoveled the ball to Iguchi at second.

Anderson made a rough slide at Iguchi outside the line and knocked the second baseman down as he threw to first. Second base umpire CB Bucknor ruled interference and a double play, sending Anderson into a fit.

He ripped off his helmet and jumped up in protest, and manager Willie Randolph also rushed out to argue.

"I know it shouldn't have been a double play, but at the same time we have to abide by the rule of the umpire," Anderson said.

Anderson demanded an explanation and said he didn't receive one.

"My foot was on top of the bag when I touched him," Anderson said. "I haven't read the rule book tonight, but maybe somebody will have an explanation for it. My foot was on the bag when I made contact with him."

Crew chief Joe West spoke on Bucknor's behalf.

"Marlon Anderson went after the second baseman to break up the double play and did not, and could not reach the base, which is what he argued," he told a pool reporter. "He went out of his way to interfere with the play that created the interference. CB made a great call, made a gutsy call and he didn't back down from the call at all."

Iguchi called the contact "unnecessary" for where he caught the ball. Randolph disagreed.

"There's no doubt that the slide was hard, but he slid into the base and he was able to touch the base with his foot, so that's unfortunate to end a game like that," he said.

Myers, who earned his 13th save, never saw the play or the commotion behind him. When first baseman Ryan Howard ran toward the mound for a congratulatory handshake, Myers was yelling for the ball.

"I was like, 'They just scored, dude. What are you doing?'" he said. "It was like, let's hurry up and get off the field before they change their mind."

Now, the Phillies might be changing some minds about how the order of the NL East will look in September. Philadelphia goes for a series sweep on Thursday.

"The experience we've gotten the last two years has really shown up," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Jamie Moyer (12-10) rebounded nicely from two straight abysmal starts (16 runs in 8 2/3 innings) and gave up eight hits, two runs and stuck out four. J.C. Romero and Tom Gordon each worked a scoreless inning.

David Wright homered for the Mets, who have lost six of eight.

The Phillies seemed on the verge of falling out of the division chase after losing four straight on this 10-game homestand. But they won the finale against the Padres, have won the last three against the Mets and hope Kyle Lohse can complete the sweep and make this a September to remember.

Oliver Perez (12-9) gave up five hits, three runs and walked five in six innings, snapping a three-start winning streak.

Perez escaped some serious trouble after loading the bases with none out in the fifth. Burrell just missed a grand slam, with the ball landing inches foul of the left-field pole. He ended up with a sacrifice fly for a 3-2 lead.

But Perez struck out Ryan Howard looking, and fanned Aaron Rowand with a 93 mph fastball to get out of the jam. Perez struck out Rowand four times and Howard three times, finishing with 10 overall in six innings.

Wright sent a full-count pitch into the bushes beyond the center-field wall for his 24th homer in the first, but the Phillies quickly gave Moyer some run support.

Rollins hit his seventh leadoff homer of the season to left and Burrell followed two batters later with his 22nd for a 2-1 lead. Counting Howard's game-winner in the 10th inning a night earlier, the Phillies homered in three of four at bats.

Carlos Beltran doubled in the fourth, advanced to third on a grounder and scored on Carlos Delgado's RBI single to left, tying the game at 2.

Game notes

The Mets sent C Sandy Alomar Jr. to Double-A Binghamton of the Eastern League. ... All-Star 2B Chase Utley, who played in two games since returning from hand surgery one month ago, was given the day off. ... Mets RHP Pedro Martinez is to throw a bullpen session for the Mets on Friday in Atlanta before the next step in his comeback from rotator cuff surgery is determined.