Recharged Piazza Has Power Surge

Mike Piazza might want to take a few more days off.

One night after sitting a game for the 37th time this season, the slumping Piazza homered twice as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-6, Friday night.

The Mets pulled within 3 1/2 games of first-place Atlanta in the National League East.

“I’m fine. This is the time of year where you can’t feel sorry for yourself,” Piazza said. “You can’t say, ‘I’m tired,’ and make excuses. You play 162 games and you have to take it to the last game and beyond.”

Bobby J. Jones (10-6) pitched seven strong innings as the Mets beat the Phillies for the fourth time in 11 games this season. The Mets had lost seven of their last eight games at Veterans Stadium.

Piazza hit a line drive into the left-field seats for a solo homer in the sixth inning that put the Mets ahead 4-3. He hit a two-run homer, his 38th, in the ninth for his 23rd career multihomer game.

“Mike shocked them with that line drive and it shook the pitcher,” Met Manager Bobby Valentine said. “He’s the best player I ever managed and he continues to do amazing things.”

Bubba Trammell added an RBI single and Mike Bordick had a two-run double off starter Randy Wolf (11-8) to cap the four-run sixth.

Jones allowed three runs and five hits. He struck out three, walked four and won for the sixth time in his last seven decisions.

Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his 39th save in 44 chances, breaking John Franco’s club record. Franco allowed a two-run homer to Scott Rolen and a solo homer to Pat Burrell in the eighth.