Utley gives the Phillies big lift with his return From the Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley got a standing ovation, a curtain call and heard “M-V-P” chants.

Not a bad way to return from the disabled list.

Utley had three hits, including a solo home run, in his first game since having hand surgery one month ago, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets, 9-2, Monday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.

J.D. Durbin had a career-high six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, Pat Burrell and pinch-hitter Tadahito Iguchi hit two-run homers and Jayson Werth was four for four, helping the Phillies move within five games of the NL East-leading Mets.

Utley, an All-Star second baseman sidelined for 28 games by a broken right ring finger, quickly found his stroke, finishing three for five with two runs batted in. He was a triple short of the cycle.

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RESULTS

at San Diego 3, Arizona 1: Geoff Blum hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning and Jake Peavy was brilliant again with 11 strikeouts, leading the Padres to a victory that cut the Diamondbacks’ lead in the NL West to two games. Peavy (15-5) tied his career high in victories. He struck out 11 for the third straight start, pushing his NL lead to 197. It was the first of seven games between the two teams in 10 days. Milton Bradley also homered for San Diego, which retained a three-game lead in the wild-card race over Philadelphia and a 3 1/2 -game lead over the Dodgers.

Atlanta 13, at Florida 2: Brian McCann hit his second grand slam in a week to help the Braves rebound from losing two of three to St. Louis. Matt Diaz hit a solo homer, doubled twice, singled and scored three runs. Chipper Jones had three hits and scored three runs, and Kelly Johnson hit a solo home run in helping hand the Marlins their 12th loss in their last 13 games.

at San Francisco 4, Colorado 1: Rich Aurilia singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning for the second straight day to help the Giants to their fifth consecutive victory. Kevin Frandsen added a two-run double to give the Giants their 10th win in 12 games. The Rockies had their winning streak stopped at three games.

at Philadelphia 9, New York 2: Mets starter Brian Lawrence (1-2) gave up five runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings, raising his earned-run average to 6.31 in five starts.

at Dodgers 5, Washington 4: The Dodgers scored three runs in the sixth inning to hand the Nationals their fourth loss in a row.