PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Opening night at Veterans Stadium is always an adventure. No matter what the occasion, the place is a nightmare for the New York Mets.

Mike Lieberthal hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies overcame a four-run deficit and beat the Mets 9-7 Monday night.

With white towels and plenty of fists swirling in the stands, the Mets blew a four-run lead for the second consecutive game. This is the stadium where New York's season almost died last year with a three-game sweep against the Phillies.

It also is the stadium where a huge brawl broke out on opening day last year. With 47,115 in the stands for a night-time opener, more pugilism was a given.

"It wouldn't be Philly if guys didn't run out on the field and have fights in the upper deck," Lieberthal said.

Lieberthal's homer off Rich Rodriguez (0-1) capped a four-run fifth inning as the Phillies erased deficits of 4-0 and 7-5. Before the start of the eighth, four fans ran onto the field and were pummeled to varying degrees by security guards.

Though a few of Philly's finest marred the evening, the rest of the fans managed to create a rare playoff atmosphere at the Vet.

"I wish it was like this every night," Lieberthal said. "You get these new stadiums and you have 47,000 every night. Just throw in towel night every night, and we'll win every game."

The Mets lost for the fourth time in five games, wasted a four-run lead for the second straight game and fell into last place in the NL East behind the Phillies.

"Once we got the lead, we didn't know what to do with it," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said.

Both managers faced questions about the ineffectiveness of their starting pitchers. Philadelphia's Paul Byrd and New York's Bobby Jones both got pounded for the second straight time.

"He tried to be too much of a power pitcher," Valentine said of Jones, who allowed seven runs -- six earned -- and six hits in four-plus innings, with one walk and two strikeouts.

"I've got to go back an analyze my last couple of starts," Jones said. "Something is not right."

Byrd, who got only two outs in his first start, allowed seven runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings and was booed off the mound. His poor start underscored last season's terrible second half, when Byrd was 4-6 with a 5.61 ERA after making the All-Star team.

"I guess it could get worse," said Byrd, his confidence obviously shaken. "This game is very humbling."

Amaury Telemaco (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings for the victory. Kirk Bullinger also retired all five batters he faced, and Wayne Gomes got four outs for his third save in three chances.

After squandering a 4-0 lead, the Mets scored three in the fifth and chased Byrd. Rickey Henderson had a one-out bloop single, stole second and went to third on Nunnally's double to center. Henderson had to hold up because Glanville almost caught the long fly while crashing into the wall.

Edgardo Alfonzo's two-run double gave the Mets a 6-5 lead, and Mike Piazza made it 7-5 with an RBI single to right.

After the Phillies took the lead, Piazza kept them from scoring again when he held onto Jon Nunnally's throw during a collision at the plate with Kevin Sefcik.

With the Phillies leading 9-7, Sefcik hit a one-out pinch triple off Rodriguez and sprinted home on Doug Glanville's fly to center. Nunnally, playing for injured starter Darryl Hamilton, made a strong throw to Piazza, who caught it on a bounce just before the speedy Sefcik arrived.

The 5-foot-10, 182-pound Sefcik delivered a clean blow to Piazza's chest, but the Mets catcher held onto the ball. Piazza was woozy, but walked to the dugout on his own and stayed in the game.

"He hits hard for a little guy," Piazza said.

Game notes
The Phillies got good news came from Clearwater, Fla., where ace Curt Schilling struck out nine in four scoreless innings of a rehab assignment. Schilling, coming back from shoulder surgery, allowed two hits and no walks in a Class-A game. "I struck out a guy with a changeup, which is like having two suns in the sky," said Schilling, so elated with his performance that he called the Vet's press box. "Physically, I feel great. I'm ready to go now." ... Piazza had an RBI double during New York's four-run first, stole third on a double steal and scored on Rolen's error. Lieberthal's