FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Cory Lidle and Chase Utley helped the Philadelphia Phillies wash away a five-game losing streak.

Lidle pitched seven effective innings and Utley belted a three-run homer to highlight a five-run fourth inning as the Phillies snapped their longest slide of the season with a 6-3 victory over the New York Mets .

The start of the game was delayed 34 minutes by rain and the contest was played through intermittent showers, but that did not keep the Phillies from winning for just the fourth time in 14 games.

Lidle (7-6) beat his former team for the fourth time in five career decisions, with the only loss coming to Kazuhisa Ishii last week at Citizens Bank Park. Lidle won the rematch with the Japanese lefthander in this one, allowing three runs and five hits, including home runs to pinch hitter Jose Offerman in the fifth and Cliff Floyd in the sixth.

"You just have to block out the rain," Lidle said. "I just said I was going to have fun out there and make sure I get through five (for an official game). You don't adjust your grip. You just try to make sure that the ball is dry."

Lidle, who walked one and struck out seven, did not allow a hit until Mike Cameron doubled with one out in the fourth and later scored on a single by Floyd.

Ugueth Urbina pitched a hitless eighth inning and Billy Wagner retired all three batters he faced in the ninth for his 19th save in 21 opportunities.

The win kept the Phillies from dropping below the Mets and into last place in the National League East.

"Nobody likes to be in last place," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We've been there and we don't want to go back."

Ishii (2-7) did not surrender a hit through three innings, but unraveled due to control problems in the fourth. He walked Jason Michaels , Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell to load the bases.

"I don't think my control was off. I was just a little extra cautious," Ishii said through an interpreter. "The game was 0-0. I should have been more aggressive."

After Ishii struck out Jim Thome , David Bell delivered the Phillies' first hit, a two-run single to center field on an 0-2 pitch.

Utley followed with his 11th homer of the season and third against the Mets to make it 5-0 and end Ishii's night.

"When a guy is erratic like that, it is difficult because you don't know if he will throw a strike or not," said Utley, who connected on a 2-2 fastball.

Ishii lost for the fourth time in five starts and was charged with five runs and two hits in 3 1/3 innings. He has allowed a home run to a lefthanded batter in each of his last four starts. Before the current stretch, Ishii never allowed homers to lefthanded hitters in consecutive starts in his major league career.

"Right now he's still in the rotation," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "If I decide to make a change at any point in time, we'll have to see if he can pitch (in relief)."

Offerman hit his second career pinch-hit homer in the fifth. His first came May 19 against St. Louis as a member of the Phillies.