The New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 on Friday night behind a pair of ninth inning home runs off the bats of Michael Conforto and Devin Mesoraco at Citizens Bank Park.
Pitching
Steven Matz started off his night by striking out both Cesar Hernandez and Aaron Altherr. He then allowed a solo home run to Odubel Herrera and issued a two out walk to Rhys Hoskins, before getting Carlos Santana to ground out and end the bottom of the first.
Matz allowed a pair of singles to Maikel Franco and Jorge Alfaro in the second, however a Jake Arrieta 6-4-3 double play helped him get out of the inning.
The Phillies again put two runners on in the third, as Hernandez singled and Herrera walked. However, Matz was able to get out of trouble again as Hoskins and Santana flew out.
Scott Kingery singled with one out in the fourth, but a 6-4-3 double play got Matz out of the inning.
Matz worked his way into and out of trouble in the fifth. After walking Arrieta to lead off the inning, he issued a one out walk to Altheer. Matz was then able to get Herrera to ground into a fielders choice.
He then hit Hoskins with a pitch, loading the bases, but Matz was able to win the battle with Santana to get him to fly out and again escape the threat. Matz threw 95 pitches over five innings, while allowing one run on five hits, walking four and striking out three.
Seth Lugo worked around a one out Kingery single in the sixth, and Paul Sewald struck out a pair in a scoreless seventh inning.
AJ Ramos (W, 2-1) struck out Kingery, and retired the Phillies in order in the eighth.
Jeurys Familia (S, 11) secured his eleventh save of the season with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.
Hitting
Asdrubal Cabrera doubled with one out in the top of the first, however he was stranded there as Yoenis Cespedes popped out and Adrian Gonzalez flew out to left center.
Michael Conforto lined an opposite field single to left center with one out in the second, but Devin Mesoraco popped out and Steven Matz grounded out to end the inning.
The Mets got two runners on with two out in the third, as Cabrera drew a walk and Cespedes singled. However, a Gonzalez struck out swinging to strand them there.
After Arrieta had retired nine Mets in a row, Gonzalez rolled a two out single up the middle in the sixth.
Conforto walked leading off the top of the seventh, however a Mesoraco double play erased him right away. Jose Reyes then came off to the bench to pinch-hit, and he drew a walk. However, with Dominic Smith pinch hitting for Amed Rosario Arrieta picked off Reyes to end the inning.
Cabrera was on base for the third time, with a two out single in the eighth, however he was stranded there again as Cespedes grounded into a fielders choice.
Wilmer Flores lined a single to left with one out in the top of the ninth. Conforto then smacked a go-ahead two run home run to right, giving the Mets a 2-1 lead. Mesoraco then jumped on the very next pitch, and gave the Mets an insurance run with a solo shot to left.
Conforto now has seven homers and 15 RBI in 64 at-bats at Citizens Bank Park.
On Deck
The Mets send Noah Syndergaard to the mound as they look to even the series with the Philadelphia Phillies. The big righty will be opposed by Zack Eflin at 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park. The game can be seen on WPIX11, and heard on 710 WOR.
