Major League Baseball

Mets 9, Phillies 5

Published May. 30, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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Jose Reyes is hitting his triples two at a time and putting himself in position to make a bundle on the free-agent market.

Reyes tripled twice for the third time this season and finished with four of New York's season-high 17 hits Sunday as the Mets enjoyed a rare offensive outburst in a 9-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

''Hopefully, they can continue to come in bunches,'' Reyes said with a smile. ''Everything I hit right now is hard, so that's good.''

Jonathon Niese did not allow an earned run against a makeshift Phillies lineup and a refreshed Josh Thole had three hits and three RBIs. Daniel Murphy matched a career high with three hits, rebounding nicely from his rough finish Friday night.

The Mets, held to three runs or fewer in nine of their previous 11 games, tied their season high for runs and prevented a three-game sweep. The 27-year-old Reyes, in the final season of his contract, equaled a career high with his sixth straight multihit game - the longest active streak in the majors.

''You kind of take it for granted. You come to expect it,'' teammate Jason Bay said. ''He's been doing it all year. It's one of those things right now where everything he touches turns to gold. He's playing real well.''

Reyes is the first player to have three games in a season with multiple triples since Carl Crawford had four in 2004. The speedy leadoff man leads the majors with eight three-baggers and ranks among the NL leaders in batting average (.335), runs, hits, doubles, steals and total bases.

He said he's having more fun than he has since 2008 and it's been ''easy'' to keep his focus on the field despite all the speculation about his future.

''I know there's a lot of rumors out there that the team is going to trade me and stuff like that,'' Reyes said. ''If I put that stuff in my mind, I'm not going to perform the way that I want to on the field. So that's why I put it on the side.''

Just now entering his prime, the oft-injured Reyes also said he can get even better.

''It's good to play with no pain,'' he said.

With center fielder Shane Victorino on the disabled list, Philadelphia rested Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz. The rest of the team looked as though it might have preferred a day off, too.

New York tagged an ineffective Vance Worley (2-1) for 12 hits in three innings, sending the rookie to his first loss in four major league starts this season.

''I didn't really locate very well. I don't think I went to my off speed enough. I think they were sitting on fastballs the first couple of pitches,'' he said.

The 23-year-old right-hander threw six shutout innings of two-hit ball in an April 29 win against the Mets, who entered Sunday batting .087 (2 for 23) against him in two appearances.

''Now we know him,'' Reyes said.

Playing without injured sluggers David Wright and Ike Davis, the Mets have gone a season-high eight games without a home run. But they improved to 3-6 this year against Philadelphia, which had won four straight and eight of 11 overall.

Raul Ibanez hit a leadoff homer in the eighth and the Phillies scored three times off reliever Taylor Buchholz to cut it to 9-4. With a runner on, Jimmy Rollins tried to stretch a single and was thrown out by right fielder Jason Pridie to end the inning.

''I was going to push it,'' Rollins said. ''Keep the pressure on the pitcher. A hit, now we got two runs. But speedy got shot down.''

Pedro Beato allowed a run in the ninth before finishing up.

Rollins made a first-inning error at shortstop that led to three unearned runs. By the third, every Mets starter besides Niese had a hit.

Handed an 8-0 lead after two, Niese (4-5) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third and received a nice ovation when he was pulled in the seventh. He gave up five hits and four walks while throwing a career-high 122 pitches.

Thole, who hadn't started behind the plate since Thursday, matched his career high with three RBIs. He began the day batting .182 (6 for 33) with runners in scoring position.

''It was certainly a bust-out game for us offensively that we needed desperately,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''Today I just saw a more relaxed atmosphere.''

NOTES: It was Howard's first day off this season. ... Rollins stole third base in the fifth and second in the seventh. ... Mets RF Carlos Beltran was lifted in the seventh after his left hamstring tightened up early in the game. Beltran said he expects to play Monday night. ''This is not an issue. Not a big deal,'' he said. ... Collins said he'll decide Monday whether R.A. Dickey will make his next scheduled start Tuesday night against Pittsburgh. Dickey tested his injured right foot with a full bullpen session and said he believes he will pitch. ... Only three umpires worked the game because Wally Bell was absent. No reason was given.

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