NEW YORK — It happened so fast, Eric Bruntlett needed a few moments before he realized he had just ended a game with an unassisted triple play.

Bruntlett became the second player in major league history to get the final three outs on his own, accomplishing the feat yesterday to preserve the Philadelphia Phillies' 9-7 victory over the New York Mets.

"I didn't know how to react. I didn't know what to do," Bruntlett said. "The ninth inning was wild. The whole game it seemed was strange."

Indeed, it was a stunning end to a crazy game that included an inside-the-park homer by the Mets' Angel Pagan after the ball got stuck under the outfield wall.

Bruntlett turned the 15th unassisted triple play in big league history — the second that ended a game. Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun also turned the trick on May 31, 1927, completing a 1-0 victory over Cleveland, according to STATS LLC.

The amazing final sequence made a winner of Pedro Martinez (2-0) in his return to New York and quashed a Mets rally against closer Brad Lidge.

"We picked a good time," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

With runners on first and second in the ninth inning and a run already in, Jeff Francoeur hit a line drive up the middle that appeared headed toward center field for a single. But both runners were stealing on the 2-2 pitch, so Bruntlett was in perfect position as he moved over to cover second base.

He caught the liner easily, stepped on second to double up Luis Castillo and then turned to tag Daniel Murphy for the third out. Murphy tried to backpedal away from Bruntlett, but had nowhere to go.

"Frenchy hit it on the screws," Murphy said. "It happened so fast there was nothing I could do."

ROCKIES 4, GIANTS 2:

Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9) allowed two runs in eight innings, outpitching Tim Lincecum (12-4), and Seth Smith hit a two-run homer in the seventh as host Colorado took a 2-1 lead in a four-games series that concludes tonight at Coors Field.

Lincecum, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, allowed three runs in seven innings.

CARDINALS 5, PADRES 2:

John Smoltz (1-0) struck out a season-high nine — including seven straight — and held San Diego to three hits over five scoreless innings to win his debut with St. Louis, which won three of four from the host Padres.

Smoltz also had a bunt single and scored the first run for the NL Central-leading Cardinals. Albert Pujols hit his 40th homer, a leadoff shot to right in the fourth, for St. Louis.

CUBS 3, DODGERS 1:

Jake Fox went 4 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, and Chicago averted a four-game sweep at Los Angeles.

Ryan Dempster (7-7) allowed one run and three hits in seven-plus innings.

BRAVES 7, MARLINS 5:

Brian McCann hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning and matched a career high with five RBIs as host Atlanta won two of three from Florida.

Peter Moylan (6-2) pitched a scoreless eighth and Rafael Soriano recorded the final three outs for his 20th save.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, ASTROS 5:

Ryan Roberts matched a career high with four hits, helping Arizona end a season-high seven-game skid by beating host Houston.

Jon Garland (7-11) went six innings and allowed four runs and 10 hits for Arizona.

NATIONALS 8, BREWERS 3:

Ryan Zimmerman, Cristian Guzman and Adam Dunn homered to help host Washington end a five-game skid.

Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen (4-6) allowed three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings to win for the first time in six starts.

REDS 4, PIRATES 1:

Homer Bailey (3-4) allowed one run in seven innings and visiting Cincinnati ended Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak.

Brandon Phillips had two hits and two RBIs for the Reds.