Phillies Beat Mets in Final Shea Opener

Carlos Delgado and the New York Mets botched the final home opener at Shea Stadium the same way they squandered a big lead in the NL East last year. April or September, doesn't seem to matter. The Mets can't find a way to hold off Philadelphia. Jamie Moyer pitched six effective innings, Jayson Werth hit a tiebreaking single and the Phillies rallied past New York 5-2 Tuesday with the help of Delgado's key error in the seventh.

It was another late comeback by Philadelphia, which took advantage of the Mets' epic collapse last September to win the division title. New York led by seven games with 17 to play, but went 5-12 down the stretch and missed the playoffs. The Phillies had a lot to do with that meltdown, beating the Mets in their final eight meetings last year and winning the season series 12-6. Make it nine in a row now. (More New York Mets stories.)