Bryce Harper was back to his former self in the Phillies' convincing win over the Mets

A year ago, Cal Stevenson wondered if he belonged in baseball.

The outfielder bounced around the majors last season, being used by three teams. He stayed in the Phillies' organization after coming off waivers in June of last season and has been working hard in Triple-A Lehigh Valley since then. A week ago, Stevenson was recalled to the major leagues after Austin Hays went on the injured list.

When Stevenson hit the game-winning double in the seventh inning of the Phillies' 6-4 victory over the Mets on Saturday, he didn't question whether he belonged. When he made a game-winning catch an inning later to steal a home run from JD Martinez over the center field fence, did not question whether he belonged there.

Bryce Harper, who himself had a great night with his first two home runs since August 9, told him so.

“If you can get those at-bats in that situation, you can get any at-bat in your career,” Harper told him. “I mean, in that moment… over 40,000 people. Big situation, big moment.”

Stevenson and Harper led the comeback against the Mets, reducing the Phillies' magic number that secured them the National League East title to seven.

“It feels good to contribute something to this team this late in the year,” Stevenson said. “We're fighting for the playoffs, for a spot and for the best record in baseball. And obviously I don't get many opportunities, so when I get in, I want to make the most of it. …

“I think that's why I feel so good to be in this situation and to get through it. I can't even explain how it feels and what it means to be a part of it.”

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The Phillies managed just three hits against Mets starter Luis Severino, but two of them were home runs by Harper, who used the entire field to help the Phillies overcome an early four-run deficit.

Harper ended his drought with the first pitch he saw in the fourth inning, sending a changeup 397 feet to left-center field. In his next batting appearance, Harper managed a seven-pitch at-bat and smacked a sweeper 386 feet to right-center field.

“These guys, these big power guys, are coming in droves,” manager Rob Thomson said of the home runs. “So I feel like there's a lot coming, and pretty soon. And he got his hits. Forty doubles. So he's had a lot of hits, but he hasn't hit a home run in a long time. But he's going to hit home runs.”

Severino left the game after the sixth inning. Bryson Stott and JT Realmuto hit back-to-back singles in the seventh before Stevenson brought them home with his double, giving the Phillies their first lead. They scored another run in the next inning on an RBI double from Realmuto.

The late surge was enough to offset a shaky start by Phillies left-hander Kolby Allard. Thomson said before the game he hoped to get five or six good innings from him on Saturday. But Allard, the last pitcher to get a chance at the fifth starting spot, was replaced after the third inning with the Phillies trailing by four and with 67 pitches under his belt.

Allard's command has been one of his strengths this season, especially during his four previous appearances with the major league club. But on Saturday, he struggled to find the strike zone and often fell behind, throwing just nine strikes on the first pitch of 17 batters he faced.

“[Allard was] “To be honest, he was unpredictable,” Thomson said. “He fought through. His fastball was often on the arm side, but he fought through.”

After allowing just two walks in his previous 18 innings with the Phillies, Allard allowed three straight walks in the first inning, forcing a run. The damage could have been even worse, but a flyout loaded the bases.

The Mets used a double, a single, a throwing error by third baseman Kody Clemens and a two-run triple by Starling Marte to score three more runs in the third inning. Thomson said he has not yet discussed whether Allard will start again as the Phillies' fifth man.

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The Phillies bullpen didn't let the Mets play for the rest of the game. Taijuan Walker took Allard's place in the fourth inning. He pitched three innings and recorded his first scoreless appearance of the season.

“I thought [my pitches] were much better [than they had been]”, Walker said. “I thought they were a lot sharper, the speed was higher with all my stuff, the splitter and everything. … Today I probably felt the best all year. I felt like my normal self today.”

Orion Kerkering threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning, Jeff Hoffman threw the eighth and Carlos Estévez threw the ninth.

Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., made his MLB debut as a shortstop for New York, getting his first major league hit in the fourth inning against Walker.