NEW YORK, July 13 (UPI) -- Travis Lee singled home the winning run in the top of the 12th inning Saturday as the Philadelphia Phillies squandered a five-run lead before defeating the New York Mets, 7-6.
The Phillies nearly squandered a six-run lead in Friday's 9-8 win and closer Jose Mesa was unable to hold a two-run lead in the ninth, collecting his sixth blown save in 29 opportunities.
Lee bailed out Mesa in the 12th with a single to center off Scott Strickland (6-6) that scored Pat Burrell, who walked and went to third on a single by Scott Rolen, his third hit of the game.
Hector Mercado (2-1) worked the 11th for the win and Carlos Silva pitched the 12th for his first major league save.
Mike Piazza drove in three runs for the Mets, who tied the game with two runs in the ninth.
Jeromy Burnitz singled with one out and Rey Ordonez kept the game alive when he hit a slow grounder to second and beat the throw to first with a headfirst slide. Roger Cedeno delivered a run-scoring single to center and Ordonez scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Mesa.
All-Star righthander Vicente Padilla lasted 7 1/3 innings for the Phillies, but manager Larry Bowa hoped he would go even longer.
In his first outing since Tuesday's All-Star Game, Padilla allowed four runs and nine hits, including a home run by Edgardo Alfonzo off the left field foul pole in the fifth. Padilla was the final National League pitcher used before Tuesday night's game was declared a tie.
Piazza cut the deficit to 6-2 with a run-scoring groundout in the sixth before the Mets added two more runs in the eighth.
Padilla allowed singles by Roberto Alomar and Timo Perez and was called for a balk before allowing a two-run single to Piazza.
Marlon Anderson had four hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Phillies, who scored three times in both the fourth and sixth.
Burrell and Rolen walked in the fourth before former Met Todd Pratt doubled down the right field line to bring home both runners. Anderson lined a run-scoring single to increase the lead to 3-0.
In the sixth, Burrell singled, went to third on a single by Rolen and came home on a passed ball by Piazza. Pratt was intentionally walked one out later before Anderson grounded a double past third base, chasing Shawn Estes.
Jaime Cerda relieved and allowed a sacrifice fly by Padilla that made it 6-1. Estes allowed six hits, walked four and struck out four.
