NEW YORK – Jim Thome hit his major league-leading 29th home run, and Kevin Millwood pitched three-hit ball for seven innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the New York Mets 5-1 Friday night.

Bobby Abreu also homered and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who bounced back from an 11-inning loss in the opener of the four-game series. Thome finished with three RBIs, and Jimmy Rollins stole two bases.

Millwood (7-5) didn’t give up a hit until the fifth and outpitched Jae Seo, who got the start when the Mets changed their minds about calling up Scott Erickson.

After New York’s bullpen was forced to work hard Thursday night, the Mets didn’t want to demote a reliever Friday to make roster space for Erickson and leave themselves short in the bullpen all weekend.

Seo (4-6) gave them seven solid innings, but it wasn’t enough. Billy Wagner entered for the Phillies in the eighth throwing 100 mph and got five outs for his 14th save in 16 chances.

In the third inning, Rollins singled and stole second for the second time in the game. Two outs later, Thome drove Seo’s first pitch 435 feet to right-center for a 2-0 lead. The ball crashed loudly against the scoreboard, drawing groans from the Fireworks Night crowd of 42,584.

Millwood held the Mets hitless until Jose Reyes and Kaz Matsui lined consecutive doubles down the left-field line with two outs in the fifth, cutting it to 2-1.

But Mike Piazza struck out to end the inning, part of an 0-for-4 night that extended his slump to 1-for-25. He was booed after popping out against Tim Worrell with a runner on in the eighth.

Abreu connected against Mike Stanton leading off the top of the eighth for his 20th home run and second in two nights. That gave the All-Star right fielder six consecutive seasons with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases. No other active player has five in a row.

Abreu and Thome each added an RBI single in the ninth off John Franco.

Using a sharp curveball, Millwood struck out six and walked four in improving to 3-0 in his last six starts. The Phillies are looking for a big second half from him after he went into the All-Star break with a 5.15 ERA.

Seo allowed only two runs and six hits, but still lost for the first time in six starts since June 11 at Kansas City.

Notes: Phillies 3B David Bell was in the lineup despite a tight left quadriceps, the result of being hit by a pitch last week. … Erickson is now expected to start Monday night against Florida – on eight days’ rest since his last outing for Triple-A Norfolk. … Matsui has seven doubles in eight games and 29 this season. … Piazza has not homered in 71 at-bats since June 22.

AP-ES-07-16-04 2216EDT