It took 14 innings, but the Mets put away the Nationals last night. Damon Easley scored on a John Hanrahan wild pitch, as the Mets upped their record to 8-6. There wasn’t much time to celebrate as once the game ended, the Mets had to board a bus to begin their seven-game road trip. What better place to start then 90 miles south of Flushing against their division foes, the Philadelphia Phillies.

While recent history has shown the Mets struggles against the Phillies, they have to be encouraged by their showing against the Phillies last week. After starting off the series slow, with a sloppy-played game, the Mets won the final two games in both dominant and dramatic fashion.

To continue the drama in this building rivalry, opening the series will be two of the National League’s best pitchers, as Johan Santana faces Cole Hamels.

Santana is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.05 and a WHIP under 1.00.  Thusfar this season, he has been a victim of run support, as the Mets have only scored six runs in his three starts.  He’s coming off his worst outing as a Met, where he allowed 4 ER, all coming courtesy of the home run. Facing the powerful Phillies lineup in that bandbox they call a stadium in South Philly might be a challenge. Santana has faced the Phillies just once in his career — as a 23-year-old kid, allowing two hits and one run in 4.2 innings while striking out five and walking six.

Hamels has been dominant this season. He is 2-1 and leads the National League in ERA (0.82). His lone loss came on his first start of the season where he pitched eight innings, and only allowed one run. Unfortunately for him, the Phillies were only able to muster up one hit, losing 1-0 to the Nationals. Hamels is 1-1 against the Mets in his career with a 2.77 ERA. Despite Citizens Bank Park being so offense friendly Hamels thrives there. In his brief career he’s gone 14-6 with a 3.26 ERA.

Oliver Perez (1-0, 3.37), and Jaime Moyer (1-0, 5.52), will face in each in the second game. Moyer’s lone win this season came against the Mets and Perez, when he allowed two runs over six innings. Perez didn’t take the loss that game as the bullpen imploded. Perez threw 5.2 innings on shutout ball, though was a little wild to start the sixth inning.

The final game of the series matches Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 1.50) against Adam Eaton (0-0, 4.12). Both of these pitchers have surprised their respective teams. Pelfrey, a one time top prospect struggled all spring, but once the games began to count, he’s turned it around. In both of his starts this season he’s nothing less than dominant. Despite winning 10 games last year, Eaton posted the leagues worst stats for a starting pitcher (6.29 ERA and a BAA of .301). Although he hasn’t won a game this season he could easily be 3-0 as all his starts this season have been “quality starts.”

The Mets will get somewhat of a break as the Phillies have been bitten by the injury bug. It’s doubtful either of the top two batters in the Phillies lineup will see playing time in the series. NL MVP Jimmy Rollins hasn’t played since spraining his ankle during the Mets home opener, and Shane Victorino is on the disabled list after straining his calf taking an extra-base hit from Mark DeRosa last Sunday.