Phillies’ Padilla Dominates Mets

Vicente Padilla usually asks to come out of a game in the late innings. With his fastball still topping 95 mph in the eighth Friday night, he didn’t want to leave.

Padilla kept up his mastery of New York, striking out a season-high 10 in eight innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the Mets, 1-0.

“He’s very honest with us,” Manager Larry Bowa said. “Sometimes he comes in and goes ‘no mas.’ He makes it very easy. When I took him out, he said, ‘No, I’m all right.’ ”

He stayed in just long enough to get the victory.

Marlon Byrd drove in the only run in the eighth inning with a single just off the outstretched glove of shortstop Jorge Velandia, scoring Nick Punto.

The Phillies, who moved one game ahead of Florida in the NL wild-card race, have won four in a row and seven of eight after a miserable August. It was their second 1-0 win of the season, the other coming against San Francisco on April 27.

“I think they’re having fun out there,” Bowa said. “I really like the atmosphere right now. You can hear it in their voices that they’re playing with a lot of excitement and energy right now.”

Rheal Cormier got three outs for his first save with the Phillies. Bowa said Jose Mesa has lost his closer’s job again after blowing two save chances in four days.

Padilla (13-9) improved to 8-1 against the Mets, including a win last Sunday in which he took a no-hit bid into the seventh. On Friday, Padilla scattered six hits and let only one runner past second base.

He walked one and struck out at least two batters in an inning four times. Padilla struck out Jay Bell and Jeff Duncan three times apiece.