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Halladay Outduels Niese, Phils Beat Mets 2-1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Roy Halladay pitched a seven-hitter to help Philadelphia set a club record with its 18th victory in April as the Phillies beat the New York Mets 2-1 on Saturday.

Halladay (4-1) allowed one run and walked one while striking out eight to lead the Phillies to their third straight victory. Philadelphia went 17-5 in April 1993.

The NL Cy Young award winner cruised in the beginning of the game- his first 18 pitches were all strikes before missing high with a fastball to Jose Reyes.

It was his seventh straight win over the Mets dating back to the 2006 season.

Mets starter Jonathon Niese (2-3) took the loss after Placido Polanco's sacrifice fly in the seventh broke a 1-1 tie.

Niese escaped jams in the fifth and sixth before John Mayberry Jr. tied it in the seventh with his first homer of the year. Wilson Valdez then singled to right field and Dane Sardinha drew a walk.

Halladay struck out after his bunt attempt was called foul by the home plate umpire. Shane Victorino singled to right to chase load the bases and chase Niese.

Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to right to break the tie.

A stellar play by second baseman Daniel Murphy on a hard grounder by Jimmy Rollins ended the inning. Murphy dove to his right and flipped the ball to shortstop Reyes - although replays showed Victorino beat the play.

Niese pitched 6 1-3 innings allowing two runs and six hits. He struck out three and walked two. At one point he retired 11 straight batters after giving up a one-out double to the second batter of the game, Polanco.

It was New York's third straight loss after winning six in a row.

The Mets left-hander ran into trouble in the fifth when he hit Ben Francisco to start the frame and then gave up a single to Mayberry Jr. Niese then got Wilson Valdez to hit into a double-play and later retired Halladay on a pop out to Murphy to end the inning.

The Phillies threatened again in the sixth on consecutive one-out singles by Polanco and Rollins. Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard then flew out to right-center field, allowing Polanco to advance to third. Niese escaped the inning when first baseman Ike Davis chased Francisco's foul ball after a long run and made an over-the shoulder catch.

The Mets got to the Philadelphia ace in the fourth on three straight hits. Murphy singled to right and David Wright reached on an infield hit to third. Carlos Beltran's single to center scored Murphy. Halladay escaped without further damage.

NOTES: 2B Polanco extended his 10-game hitting streak with a double in the first inning. ... Philadelphia had it 136th consecutive sellout crowd at home. ... The Mets are 3-7 all-time against Halladay. New York is 0-2 this season against him. ... Davis ended his hitting streak at 11 games.

© 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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