Mets 8
Phillies 6
PHILADELPHIA – Aaron Heilman hopes he has many starts ahead of him. Who knows how many innings are left in John Franco’s arm?
Regardless of what the future holds for either pitcher, the 24-year-old righty and the 42-year-old lefty bookended last night’s 8-6 victory over Philadelphia to claim personal milestones – but not before their requisite shaky moments.
Heilman, who earned his first major-league victory in his fifth career start, battled through trouble in the first and fifth innings. Franco, who earned his first save in over two years, brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth before getting the job done.
“I wanted it to come,” said Heilman, who was given a clothes-soaking beer shower and also an “anonymous bottle” of Korbel champagne. “It’s nice to get it out of the way.”
Heilman (1-2) scuffled in the first inning after Cliff Floyd’s three-run home run – the first of three hit by the Mets – off the right-field scoreboard had given him a lead. He walked two, plunked one and gave two runs back. But then the Mets’ 2001 first-round pick settled down until the fifth, when he took the hill with a 6-2 lead.
Despite allowing a two-run bomb to Jim Thome and then taking a single off his right knee, Heilman showed gumption that inning. He left after the fifth and 108 pitches, but relievers Dan Wheeler, David Weathers and Franco finished up.
Franco catalogued his first save since June 19, 2001, after allowing an RBI double, a warning-track flyout and a walk. Pinch-hitter Jason Michaels’ fielder’s choice grounder to third ended it.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction,” Franco said. “I’m just happy to be pitching again. With what I went through the last year and a half, I’m happy to be out there and contributing.”
Franco was told he was the Mets’ oldest pitcher and Heilman was the youngest. “That’s kind of ironic, isn’t it?” Franco said. “Hopefully it’s the first of many for him.”
Whatever comfort zone Heilman had quickly dissipated in the fifth when Placido Polanco smashed a leadoff double down the left-field line. Heilman worked ahead of Thome to a 1-2 count, but the Phillies’ first baseman went opposite field with the next pitch and sent it deep into the seats in left for his 25th jack.
Heilman regrouped to whiff Bobby Abreu with a nasty off-speed pitch but then walked Mike Lieberthal on five pitches. Pat Burrell glanced a single off Heilman’s right knee and into shallow right, moving Lieberthal to third.
Heilman pronounced himself fine and threw the key pitch of the outing. First baseman Jason Phillips turned a hot grounder from Tyler Houston into a double play, stepping on the bag before firing home to catch Lieberthal in an inning-ending rundown.
Phillips then gave the Mets an 8-4 edge with a two-run clout in the sixth, providing enough offense for only the Mets’ second victory in 12 games.
“[Shoot], we were 0-4 coming out of the break,” said manager Art Howe, who had a frosty beer on his desk. “We needed a win.”
