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WHAT IT MEANS: The Mets’ bid to move seven games over .500 for the first time since July 15, 2010 -- as well as their attempt to win three straight series against the Phillies for the first time since 2007 -- both went for naught as the bullpen could not protect a two-run lead.

Philadelphia won Wednesday’s rubber game at Citi Field, 10-6. Shane Victorino delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly against Jon Rauch that scored Juan Pierre in the eighth. Jimmy Rollins then added a three-run homer in the ninth against Ramon Ramirez.

Ramirez inherited one runner from Tim Byrdak, who had a 14-appearance scoreless streak snapped as a result of the homer. Chris Schwinden could not halt the damage either in what became a six-run ninth that made it 10-3.

The Mets' bullpen, which has jettisoned D.J. Carrasco and Manny Acosta this month, has an MLB-worst 5.45 ERA.

GEE-LEE DUEL: Eight starts into the season, Phillies ace Cliff Lee remains winless. But a seventh-inning rally by the Phillies limited his latest futility to a no-decision and ultimately propelled Philadelphia to a victory.

Half an inning after Lucas Duda gave the Mets a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer against the southpaw, Terry Collins pulled Dillon Gee at 110 pitches with Brian Schneider in scoring position and two out, once pinch hitter Carlos Ruiz was inserted at the plate for Lee.

Ruiz, who was unable to start behind the plate in the series because of a hamstring strain in his right leg, greeted Bobby Parnell with a two-run homer that evened the score at 3-3.

Gee’s final line: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

Lee’s eight starts this season are second-most in the majors without a win to show. The Cubs’ Ryan Dempster, who had a no-decision Wednesday, is winless in nine starts.

DON’T STOP: Daniel Murphy ran through third-base coach Tim Teufel’s stop sign in the first inning but narrowly managed to score from first base on David Wright's double off the center-field wall.

Wright finished 1-for-5, by the way. His average now stands at .365.

DIDN’T GET WIGGY: Ex-Met Ty Wigginton's second-inning homer accounted for the only damage against Gee besides the inherited run Parnell allowed to score. In seven games against the Mets this season, Wigginton is hitting .409 (9-for-22) with two homers and 12 RBIs.

NO SKIDDING: Duda snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a fourth-inning single. He also homered twice, giving him a team-high seven this season, passing Scott Hairston. It was Duda's second career multi-homer game.

WHAT’S NEXT: After a stretch of playing 20 games in 20 days, the Mets get a deserved day off Thursday.

Still, there will be plenty of Mets activity. Josh Thole, unable to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday night with Triple-A Buffalo because of a clerical delay, is scheduled to catch Chris Young’s start with the Bisons on Thursday morning.

Andres Torres will screen his new documentary “Gigante,” which deals with his battle with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Broadcaster Howie Rose will deliver the commencement address at Queens College, his alma mater.

Carlos Beltran and the St. Louis Cardinals then visit Citi Field on Friday. Johan Santana works with an extra day of rest in the series opener against right-hander Adam Wainwright (4-5, 4.45) and his infamous curveball. Wainwright had been due to pitch Saturday, but will move up a day because left-hander Jaime Garcia is being skipped due to elbow discomfort, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.