Mets 6, Phillies 3: Bloops and blasts defeat Philly

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez has turned his season around in recent weeks – and saved his most important hits for Saturday.

With a key two-out, two-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning, Alvarez helped extend the Mets' lead that led to a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Queens on Saturday.

Earlier in the second inning, Alvarez hit a 3-2 changeup into the left-field seats to tie the game at 1-1. It was Alvarez's 11th home run of the year and fifth in his last nine games, with the catcher finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Mets starter Sean Manaea continued his impressive month-long winning streak, finishing the game with three hits allowed in seven innings, six strikeouts and only three baserunners allowed – all three of whom scored.

Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber opened the game with his 15th leadoff home run of the season, extending his record as baseball's most leadoff homers in a season. Jose Iglesias began the bottom of the inning with a double to tie the score, but a flyout by Starling Marte, a strikeout by Mark Vientos and a groundout by Brandon Nimmo left the Mets empty-handed after one inning.

Iglesias finished the game 2-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to 15 games, just one shy of Francisco Lindor's team-high for the season.

Alvarez's home run in the second inning tied the game at 1-1, and Luisangel Acuña put the Mets ahead two batters later with a solo home run, his third of the season. Only one player in franchise history has ever hit more home runs in the first eight games of his career (Mike Jacobs, four in 2005).

Right fielder Nick Castellanos tied the game at 2-2 with a solo home run in the fifth inning, his 22nd home run of the season. Manaea allowed only two baserunners in his first six innings, but both were solo home runs.

The Mets had a chance to break the 2-2 tie in the sixth inning when Acuña was at bat with two outs. Harrison Bader came in on a walk, and Acuña hit a fly ball to shallow right field that bounced just past Castellano's outstretched glove. Bader was on his way to the point, but the ball bounced over the wall, forcing him to retreat to third base on the automatic double. Iglesias was eliminated on a groundout in the next at-bat, and the Phillies escaped unscathed.

But the tie lasted just one more inning, as an RBI single by Nimmo in the seventh gave the Mets a 3-2 lead and Alvarez added an RBI double to left field for extra security. Another bloop RBI with two outs in the eighth – this time by Pete Alonso – gave the Mets extra security.

Alonso finished the game with a 1-for-1 RBI single and three walks. And in a not-so-stellar role, Mark Vientos finished the game with five strikeouts, becoming the first Met to earn a platinum sombrero since Tyler Naquin in 2022.

Reed Garrett allowed a run on a groundout in the eighth inning (credited to Manaea, who started the eighth inning but left the field after allowing a leadoff single to JT Realmuto) and Edwin Díaz finished the game with a save with four outs.

With the win, the Mets (86-69) have a lead of at least two games over the Braves heading into their final home game of the season. The Mets will pit Tylor Megill against Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler on Sunday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.

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What is WPA?

Big Mets winner: Francisco Alvarez, +20% WPA

Big Mets loser: Mark Vientos, -17% WPA

Mets pitcher: +21 % WPA

Mets bats: +29 % WPA

This is the best game: Brandon Nimmo leads with single, +21.0% WPA

The sux0rest game: Home run by Nick Castellanos, -14.7% WPA