Sept. 15—The Philadelphia Phillies’ best quality may be their toughness.
Fresh off a win over the New York Mets, the Phillies aim to win the rubber game in a three-game series on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.
The Phillies (89-59) are eight games ahead of the second-place Mets (81-67) and Atlanta Braves (81-67) in the National League East. However, the Mets are tied with the Braves for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League.
All three teams have 14 games remaining, with Philadelphia heading to New York for a four-game series beginning Thursday.
However, the Phillies did not have a good start in this series. The Mets won easily 11-3 on Friday and took a 4-0 lead on Saturday.
However, the Phillies responded behind Bryce Harper’s two-run home run and a stellar performance from Carl Stevenson, who hit a two-run double in the seventh inning and then stole the show next inning.
The bullpen eventually helped lead to a 6–4 win for Philadelphia, which has won 10 of its last 13 games.
“I think we have an experienced team,” manager Rob Thomson said. “They have bad memories … they forget things and then move on. They’ve been playing long enough that they know they have to move on.”
Thomson said Stevenson could see more action in the near future.
“He’s hitting the ball really well,” Thompson said. “He can go out in the outfield and get the ball.”
Harper, meanwhile, hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 9. The explosions also quieted the Mets, who were 12-2 in their previous 14 games.
“That was a good team,” Harper said. “They played really well. I’m happy to get the win today.”
Of course, the Mets won’t be as good without star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who missed Saturday’s game because of lower back pain.
“I made the decision to stay away from him today,” said New York manager Carlos Mendoza, who probably won’t play with Lindor again in Sunday’s series finale.
On the good news, Mendoza was pleased with the performance of shortstop Luis Angel Acuna, who had two hits in his major league debut.
“It’s great to see him fight and lead us into the ninth inning. I think he’s great,” Mendoza said of the 22-year-old.
Perhaps Luis Angel Acuna will be back in the lineup Sunday, as the Mets face left-hander Christopher Sanchez (10-9, 3.33 ERA), who has lost only one of 13 innings this month, striking out two. In his last game on Monday, he pitched six innings in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Sanchez has faced New York once this season, giving up three runs over 5 2/3 innings in a winless game on May 13. He went 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA (four starts).
The Mets will face left-hander David Peterson (9-2, 2.98 ERA) on Sunday, who gave up a season-high five runs (4 ERA) in his last start on Tuesday, eventually losing to the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2.
“He doesn’t have it, especially with his fastball and command,” Mendoza said after that game.
Peterson, 29, has yet to pitch against the Phillies this season. He went 1-2 with a 5.30 ERA in eight games (seven starts) against them.
Harper went 7 for 15 with a double and a home run against Peterson.
–Visual-level media
