Mets score double-digit runs for the third time in a row, a franchise newcomer

The New York Mets scored double-digit runs in three consecutive games for the first time in their 63-year history when they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Thursday night.

After their 10-1 and 10-0 victories over Washington, the Mets hit home runs by Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez against Philadelphia starter Taijuan Walker.

Luisangel Acuña, a brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr., drove in the 10th run with an RBI triple in the seventh off José Alvarado.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the 9,963rd regular season game in the Mets' 63-year history.

“Sick,” said Alonso.

A franchise whose success depended on the strength of pitchers Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden and Jacob deGrom ranks fourth in the major leagues with 740 runs – one more than the Phillies.

“It's pretty amazing that the Mets have played over 10,000 games and we're the first to do it,” Nimmo concluded. “That's something very special.”

New York won its fourth straight game and 16th in the last 20 games to maintain its two-game lead over Atlanta and the final wild-card spot in the NL.

The Mets did most of their damage through Walker (3-7), who made his first start since Aug. 28 after being limited to three bullpen appearances. He allowed four home runs, a career low, along with 8 runs, 8 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter in 3⅓ innings. His ERA rose to 6.91 in a game in which he also recorded his 1,000th strikeout.

Philadelphia's pitchers walked eight times, the most of the season.

Vientos put the Mets ahead with his 25th home run, a 113 mph line drive down the left field line. Four pitches later, Alonso hit an opposite-field drive to right-center field for his 34th home run, giving the Mets back-to-back home runs for the sixth time this season.

Six pitches into the bottom of the third inning, Nimmo gave the Mets the lead with his 21st home run, a two-run drive to right-center field. After Brandon Marsh's RBI single cut the Phillies' deficit to 4-3 in the fourth inning, Alvarez hit his third home run in six starts, a three-run drive in a five-run fourth that extended the Mets' lead to 7-3.

“We've had that trust and belief in each other all year and I think now it's bearing fruit and coming to light a bit more,” Alonso said.

Attendance at Mets home games, down about 300,000 from last year, was hurt by the departures of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in the summer of 2023 and the slow start this season.

“When there is a great atmosphere at Citi and it is fun to play, we benefit fully from it,” said Alonso.

After Wednesday's win, Nimmo implored people to fill Citi Field.

“Mets fans, we need you to fill the place!” he shouted in an on-field interview that could be heard throughout the stadium. “This place has to rock on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday! We need your help! We need everyone here! We need the place full! This is playoff baseball. This is what you want. Let's go! Let's go, Mets!”

35,982 spectators came, the largest crowd at Citi Field since a Subway Series game against the Yankees in late June.

“It was a great energy and a playoff atmosphere. I'm very thankful for that,” Nimmo said. “We need more of that as we get into this home stretch and head into this weekend. We fed off of it.”

There are only three home games left before the away game in Atlanta and Milwaukee, which marks the end of the regular season.

“The more positive energy there is and the more people create that hostile atmosphere for the visiting team, the better we play in my opinion,” said Alonso. “It's contagious.”

This report uses information from the Associated Press.