"If the first inning didn't go that way, we would've won the game," Myers said after the Phils fell back into a first-place tie with the Mets. "And I probably would have pitched nine innings the way I felt."

Instead, he lasted only five and threw 95 pitches (49 strikes) before passing the baton -- and a 3-3 tie -- to his closest friend on the team, reliever Ryan Madson, who surrendered a decisive three-run home run to Jose Reyes in the sixth.

But before Reyes' drive landed over the right field fence, any residual effect from Tuesday night's six-run, ninth-inning rally had waned when Myers threw 29 pitches, walked four batters and allowed two runs in a too-easy first inning for the Mets.

Myers insisted he wasn't overexcited to make his first major league start since June 27. But 10 of his first 13 pitches were out of the strike zone. He walked Endy Chavez, David Wright and Carlos Delgado on 18 pitches to load the bases before walking Carlos Beltran to force in a run.

And catcher Carlos Ruiz had to make several walks to the mound to remind Myers, "It's not how hard you throw. It's (about) making good pitches in a good location. That's when you do good."

The problem, Myers said, was his elevated four-seam fastball, which he was unable to throw for strikes. After the first inning, he shortened his stride, threw more sinkers and had more success spotting the four-seamer.

METS 6, PHILLIES 3: Shane Victorino and Geoff Jenkins belted back-to-back solo home runs in the second inning, but the Phillies were unable to carry over the momentum from their stirring ninth-inning comeback victory Tuesday night. By losing the middle game of a three-game series at Shea Stadium, the Phillies fell back into a first-place tie with the Mets in the National League East. Ryan Madson allowed the decisive home run to Jose Reyes in the sixth inning.