Mets blow big lead and lose to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA -- Chris Coste hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets, 8-7, on Tuesday night to retake the lead in the NL East after overcoming a 7-0 deficit.

Fernando Tatis hit a three-run homer and the Mets staked Pedro Martinez to a seven-run cushion. But the Phillies chipped away against Martinez and rallied against a bullpen that has blown 10 leads in the ninth inning.

The Mets have 22 blown saves overall.

“People are going to have to get people out,” Mets Manager Jerry Manuel said. “We’ll keep doing it until we find the right way.”

Ryan Howard hit his 35th homer and Jimmy Rollins was five for seven for Philadelphia, which moved half a game ahead of the Mets.

Shane Victorino lined a triple down the right-field line to start Philadelphia’s 13th against Scott Schoeneweis (2-3). After Jayson Werth and Eric Bruntlett walked, Manager Charlie Manuel turned to pitcher Brett Myers to bat for Rudy Seanez. Myers struck out looking.

Coste then drove one to center way over the head of the drawn-in Carlos Beltran.