September 15 – Carl Stevenson hit a two-run double in the seventh inning and then hit a home run in the eighth to give the host Philadelphia Phillies a 6–4 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday.
Bryce Harper hit two home runs for Philadelphia (89-59), which moved eight games ahead of New York (81-67) in the NFC East standings.
The Phillies and Mets finish their three-game series in the rubber game on Sunday and resume a four-game series next weekend in New York.
Starlin Marte drove in three runs for the Mets, who have won 12 of their last 14 games. Luisangel Acuna, the brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna, made his major league debut with New York and went 2-for-4.
The Phillies were behind 4-0 before Harper slammed consecutive runs. His 27th homer in the fourth — and his first since Aug. 9 — tied the game 4-1, and then he hit a two-run shot in the sixth — his 150th home run with the Phillies — gave the home team a 4-1 lead and a margin of three.
Both homers were hit by Mets starter Luis Severino, who was charged with allowing only three runs in six innings. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five.
Danny Young (4-1) took over in the seventh inning, allowing two consecutive hits to Bryson Stotts and JT Realmuto. Brandon Marsh sacrificed a runner in scoring position, and two batters later Stevenson came up with a double to right field against Reed Garrett.
However, Stevenson’s game wasn’t over yet. Early in the eighth quarter, Martinez singled to straightaway center field, but Stevenson completed a full-jump catch at the wall to preserve the Phillies’ lead.
Realmuto provided an insurance run with an RBI double in the eighth inning. He went two-for-four after missing a week because of knee pain.
Kobe Allard started for Philadelphia but was taken out after giving up four runs (three earned) in three innings. Taijuan Walker pitched three scoreless innings before Orion Kerkering (5-2), Jeff Hoffman and Baltimore ace Carlos Esteves earned his 26th save.
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