Benson and Cameron Return To Lead Mets Over Phillies

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The New York Sun

Kris Benson and Mike Cameron made their 2005 debuts, Mike Piazza ended a long slump with a big day, and David Wright got the key hit after shattering his bat in frustration.


The Mets’ 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday was the type of game they dreamed about during the offseason. For the first time this year, all their regulars were available.


“You have a good feel of where you can go from there,” manager Willie Randolph said. “Everyone making a contribution and the fact that we, for the first time all year, had most of our guys here, is just really encouraging.”


In a 1-for-21 slide coming in, Piazza had four hits, including a three-run homer off Tim Worrell in the eighth that put the Mets ahead 7-2. Piazza raised his average from .198 to .231.


“I don’t want to say I was feeling sorry for myself, but I was close to it,” said Piazza, who had a big day on the first anniversary of his surpassing Carlton Fisk for the career record for home runs by a catcher.


Piazza’s homer turned out to be important because Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run shot off Mike DeJean in the ninth before Braden Looper struck out Pat Burrell with a runner on for his sixth save, his second in under 24 hours.


Wright split his bat against the ground after striking out with the bases loaded in the third inning, then broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a two run double off the right-center field fence following an intentional walk to Mientkiewicz.


He was a bit embarrassed about breaking the bat.


“You want to play with emotion, but you try not to let it show that much,” he said. “You ought to do it in the tunnel somewhere, not down on the field.”


On the disabled list since the start of the season because of a strained chest muscle, Benson allowed two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings, wasting a 2-1 lead when he grazed Burrell with a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth.


Aaron Heilman (3-2) relieved for just the second time in his major league career, escaped the jam, and went on to allow one hit in 3 1/3 innings, striking out five. Cameron doubled twice and also made an error in right field when he slipped running down a single by Marlon Byrd.


With Cameron back from a wrist injury, Victor Diaz was shifted to left for the first time in the major leagues and Floyd, who has a major league-high 20-game hitting streak, was given a day off.


“He’s been carrying us. Maybe that’s why his legs are tired,” Randolph joked. “That’s a lot of weight.”


Vicente Padilla (0-4) gave up four runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He had been 9-1 against the Mets before a 16-4 loss on April 19.


Worrell’s ERA increased to 9.82 as the last-place Phillies fell to 12-17.


The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the second on run-scoring doubles by Mientkiewicz and Diaz.


Philadelphia tied it in the fifth. After Rollins blooped a single behind shortstop Jose Reyes that Beltran should have caught, a walk to Chase Utley loaded the bases with one out. Bobby Abreu popped out, but Benson hit Burrell with a 1-2 pitch.


Heilman, slated to start Monday in Chicago, then came in and retired David Bell on a comebacker.


“He’s probably been the most pleasant surprise,” Randolph said.


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