Mets Top Phillies for 5th Straight Win

The Mets beat the Phillies again Tuesday night for their fifth straight win and maintain their five and a half game lead in the NL East.

The Mets picked up where they left off from Monday’s home run barrage. Yoenis Cespedes homered with one on in the first to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

The Mets made it 3-0 in the second when Noah Syndergaard doubled to drive in Travis d’Arnaud.

But then Syndergaard coughed up the lead. The Phillies scored four runs in the third on two two-run home runs to make it 4-3. It wasn’t all Syndergaard’s fault — Kelly Johnson committed an error with two outs to extend the inning, setting the stage for the second homer, by Ryan Howard, of course.

But the Mets fought back, thanks to some shoddy pitching. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. d’Arnaud also walked to force in a run to tie the game at four. Michael Cuddyer, pinch-hitting for Syndergaard, singled to plate two runs to give the Mets a 6-4 lead.

Syndergaard was done after five innings and 96 pitches, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out nine and walked two. He got the win to up his record to 8-6 with a 3.19 ERA.

Eric O’Flaherty came on, and he was not good once again. He allowed two singles and was pulled in favor of Hansel Robles. He allowed a run on a ground out to make it 6-5. O’Flaherty has a 12.60  ERA in eight appearances with the Mets.

Tyler Clippard was not much better. After a long fly out by Howard, he allowed a single and a walk. He struck out Domonic Brown for the second out. Jeurys Familia then came on for the four-out save. He got the final out of the inning on a grounder.

He then retired the Phillies in order in the ninth.

Mets win 6-5.