Phillies stun Mets in ninth to grab NL East lead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Philadelphia Phillies moved to the top of the National League East on Tuesday after scoring six runs at the top of the ninth to beat the New York Mets 8-6.

With the teams entering the game tied for the division lead, the Mets looked poised to capture the opener of a three-game series after taking a 5-2 lead into the ninth.

But with closer Billy Wagner sidelined due to muscle spasms in his shoulder, the Mets imploded -- the Phillies scoring six runs on relievers Dauner Sanchez, Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano before Aaron Heilman got the last out of the inning.

"A lot of different things might have happened if I was out there," Wagner told reporters.

"I'd rather be the guy standing here taking the blame instead of letting my team mates suck on this one."

Mets starter Johan Santana went eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks. The loss saw the Mets slip back into a tie for second place with Florida in the East.

"I guess we can put the whole notion of not getting timely hitting away for a day," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

"We got the hits tonight when it counted after he (Santana) was out of there."

Joe Blanton made his first start for the Phillies since being picked up in a trade from Oakland on Thursday and allowed five runs on eight hits over six innings.

Chad Durbin (3-2) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win and Brad Lidge allowed a run in the ninth but still earned his 22nd save in as many opportunities.

So Taguchi and Jimmy Rollins had two-run doubles in the ninth and Shane Victorino homered for the Phillies.

"You never give up," Rollins said. "We proved last year coming back to win the division that anything can happen in baseball."

Carlos Delgado and Ramon Castro homered for the Mets, who had won 11 of their previous 13 games.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by Peter Rutherford)