Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Roy Halladay pitched into the eighth inning and helped himself with a two-run single as the Phillies opened a three-game weekend set against the Mets with a solid 8-4 victory.

Halladay (18-10) was charged with four runs on eight hits without walking a batter in 7 2/3 innings to beat the Mets for a fourth time in as many attempts this season. He struck out five and won for the eighth time in his last 10 starts overall.

The durable right-hander became the first Phillie to win 18 games since John Denny in 1983.

Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-3 with an RBI single and walked twice in five plate appearances. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley both homered for Philadelphia, which came into the series having scored just seven runs in six games at Citi Field this season.

New York’s Jenrry Mejia (0-4) was tagged for nine hits and six runs in just four innings of his second career start.

The Mets did most of their damage against Halladay in the third inning, with Carlos Beltran’s two-run homer and Jose Reyes’ run-scoring double. David Wright added a late RBI hit.

The loss opened a 10-game homestand for New York, which had won three of four.