Mets Sweep Saturday Doubleheader With Phils

 

Taijuan Walker pitching to Ronny Mauricio in the first inning of Game 1. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets swept a doubleheader from their rival Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday at Citi Field, as they took the opener, 4-3, and the nightcap, 11-4.

GAME 1: Mets 4, Phillies 3: Tylor Megill had delivered an excellent performance in his final start of the season, as he went a career-high 7 1/3 innings, and allowed just one run (earned) on four hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts. 

The right-hander finished the season with a winning record, 9-8, with a 4.70 ERA (earned run average). He finished on quite the high note, as he allowed three runs or fewer in a career-high eight straight starts, in which he had a 3.00 ERA (15 earned runs in 45.0 innings) in that span.

The Mets gave Megill an early lead against old friend Taijaun Walker in the first inning. Rafael Ortega and Ronny Mauricio opened it with singles, and Pete Alonso then got an RBI groundout. later on, Brett Baty followed with an RBI single, and Francisco Lindor (who reached on a walk) came in to score on a wild pitch and that made it 3-0 Mets.

Catcher Omar Narvaez led off the second inning with a home run to deep right, just his second of the season, and the solo shot made it 4-0 Mets.

Walker settled in, and he went seven innings, and allowed those four runs (all earned) on four hits and four walks, with three strikeouts. He will finish the season with a 15-6 record and a 4.38 ERA in his first season in Philadelphia.

The Phillies made a game of it in the ninth against Mets closer Adam Ottavino. Brandon Marsh had an RBI double, and then he came in to score on an RBI single from Weston Wilson that made it 4-3 Mets.

Wilson then proceeded to steal both second and third bases, so the Phillies had the tying run at third with one out. 

Ottavino then beared down and struck out Jake Cave looking and got Cristian Pache to fly out to center to end it and he earned his 12th save of the season.

The one scary moment of this one came in the second inning when a Walker fastball came up and in on Alonso and hit his helmet, breaking off the extra flap that goes in front of Alonso's face. Luckily, the Mets first baseman was fine and stayed in the game.

Pete Alonso heads to first base after being hit by a pitch from Taijuan Walker, who heads back to the mound. Photo by Jason Schott.

GAME 2: Mets 11, Phillies 4: The Mets offense exploded in this one against Phillies starting pitcher Michael Plassmeyer, who was making his third appearance in the Major Leagues and first start.

After Plassmeyer retired the Mets in order in the first, Francisco Lindor reached on an error by shortstip Trea Turner and he came in to score on a single from Brett Baty.

Francisco Alvarez then followed with an absolute bomb to left field for a two-run homer and that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.

In the third inning, Rafael Ortega opened with a single, followed by a double for Ronny Mauricio, and Cristian Pache made a throwing error after fielding it that would allow Ortega to score and make it 4-0.

Then, Pete Alonso and Lindor were hit by pitches to load them, and after Baty was called out on strikes, Alvarez launched another blast to left field for a grand slam that opened up an 8-0 lead.

That gave the Mets catcher two homers and six RBI on the night, running his season totals up to 25 HR and 63 RBI.

Philadelphia climbed back into it in the fourth when they put up four runs, including a three-run shot by Kyle Schwarber, his 47th of the season, off Mets starter Jose Quintana.

Lindor then joined the homer party in the fourth when he hit a two-run blast that made it 10-4. It was the Mets shortstop's 31st homer of the season, and he is now at 98 RBI on the season.

Mark Vientos then followed with a single, which chased Plassmeyer from the game. The left-hander went 3 2/3 innings, and he allowed 10 runs (9 earned) on eight hits and no walks, but three hit batters, with four strikeouts.

Quintana went four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and no walks, with five strikeouts, in the last start of his season. Since he didn't go five innings, he got a no-decision to finish with a record of 3-6 with a 3.57 ERA. 

Jose Quintana pitching to Kyle Schwarber in the third inning. Photo by Jason Schott.