By: Matthew Mack
The Phillies continued their playoff push as they travelled to Citi Field in Queens to play the New York Mets.
Freddy Galvis started the scoring in the first game in the second inning with a sacrifice fly RBI to score J.T. Realmuto. The Mets responded in the fourth with Javier Baez RBI single to right. Brad Miller, who has had a good season to this point hit a solo home run to break the tie. Matt Vierling added more for the Phils as he submitted his sacrifice fly to score Didi Gregorius in the seventh. Philadelphia’s pitching staff led by Zack Wheeler held the Mets down. Even though the bullpen allowed two in the eighth, they held as Ian Kennedy shut the door to obtain his 23rd save of the year and secure the win, four-to-three.
Saturday night belonged to Jean Segura as he slammed two solo homers in his first two at bats of the game. Francisco Lindor and the Mets finally got on the board when he brought home Brandon Nimmo after grounding out to second. Philly responded right away as Galvis doubled in Miller to get the run back. Later in the game, MVP candidate Bryce Harper did his thing by hitting a double to score two to extend the Philly lead. Aaron Nola beared down and handled business as he struck out nine while walking one and giving up a run on four hits. Kennedy saved his 24th game of the year, securing the win.
Waking up Sunday morning, the Phillies found out that they were one game out of first place in the NL East after the Braves lost their last four games. They know that no matter what, business must be handled on their end. Realmuto started the scoring in the first with an RBI double. Harper added his sacrifice fly in the fifth to score Galvis to extend the lead. In the other half inning, New York responded with Smith hitting a two-run RBI double to tie the game. The seventh inning came and Jeff McNeil homered off of starter Kyle Gibson to take the lead. That was all she wrote as the Mets salvaged the series and took this game three-to-two.
Just when you think the Phillies were about to blow it, somehow they get back into this thing. Both division and Wild Card. Though the Wild Card lead has continued to exchange hands like a hot potato. They are still in the mix. Atlanta has struggled while Philly surged. Though the Braves won Sunday afternoon, their lead in the division is two games. The Phillies play the worst team in baseball at home, the Baltimore Orioles. They need to keep winning if they want to get to the playoffs. .
