Jose Reyes homered for the Mets, helping quiet the red-clad Philadelphia fans in the Citi Field crowd of 35,788.
New York was able to slow the surging Phillies in their pursuit of a fourth straight NL East title even without center fielder Carlos Beltran, who sat out with tendinitis in his left knee. He said the injury was a result of overcompensating during the rehabilitation of his surgically repaired right knee this spring. Beltran is day to day.
The Phillies held a one-game lead over Atlanta entering Saturday. This was the first of their final 20 games, all against teams in the East - Philadelphia dropped to 29-24 against the division but made it close by rallying for three runs in the eighth.
Hisanori Takahashi gave up a one-out double off the left-field wall to pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney, then retired Wilson Valdez and pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz on groundouts for his sixth save in six chances.
The Mets held a brief pregame ceremony to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in attendance. Both teams lined up along the first- and third-base lines as a video tribute was shown and a New York City firefighter sang the national anthem. Several first responders threw out ceremonial first pitches.
Pelfrey (14-9) then didn't allow a runner past first base until Jayson Werth reached second on Raul Ibanez's single in the seventh. Pelfrey bested his 13 victories in 2008, needing three tries to get No. 14.
After Pelfrey gave up Shane Victorino's RBI single with one out in the eighth, Mets manager Jerry Manuel removed the starter. The right-hander stood with his back to Manuel and didn't relinquish the ball until he slapped it into Bobby Parnell's glove before walking slowly off the field, head down, to the opposite end of the dugout.
Pelfrey allowed two runs and six hits, struck out five and walked none.
Parnell allowed a single to Placido Polanco and was lifted for Pedro Feliciano. After an out, Ryan Howard hit a two-run single to make it 4-3. Manny Acosta struck out Jayson Werth to end the eighth.
Davis had an RBI ground-rule double down the right-field line off Kyle Kendrick (9-9) in the first. He added a two-run single off J.C. Romero that made it 4-1 in the seventh after Jose Contreras intentionally walked David Wright to load the bases. Davis is 16 for 34 (.471) in 10 September games with 10 RBIs.
With the late-afternoon shadows creeping past the pitcher's mound and out to right field, Reyes sent a drive into the deck overhanging the right field wall for a 2-0 lead in the third.
Kendrick, whose spot in the rotation has been tenuous after posting a 7.84 ERA in his last four starts, was pulled after five innings and 64 pitches. He allowed two runs, five hits and two walks.
The Mets also loaded the bases in the sixth but came up empty when Werth caught Luis Hernandez's shallow fly in right-center field and threw out Wright at home plate.
NOTES: Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins sat out his second straight game with tightness in his right hamstring. manager Charlie Manuel said there is no guarantee he'll be ready to play Sunday. ... Pelfrey had a 10.38 ERA in his first two attempts at his 14th win.
