The Mets (70-56) defeated the Philadelphia Phillies (50-77) by a score of 9-4 tonight at Citizens Bank Park.
Pitching:
Bartolo Colon got the start for the Amazin’s tonight, and pitched very well, going seven strong innings, allowing zero earned runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking just two.
Eric O’Flaherty relieved Colon in the eighth inning, and let up two singles and gave up a run on a groundout before being removed in favor of Carlos Torres.
Torres faced one batter – Cameron Rupp – who laced a double to center field to plate two runs.
Tyler Clippard who probably thought he’d have the night off, came on to try and stop the bleeding, and despite letting up one more run, was able to escape the inning without letting up further damage.
Clippard then came back on in the ninth, and set the Phillies down 1,2,3 to seal the win for the Mets, and in the process earning his 19th save of the year.
Offense:
The Mets jumped out to an early lead once again, as they put up a crooked number in the first inning.
Curtis Granderson reached second base on a fly ball that Phillies’ center field Odubel Herrera to lead off the game. Yoenis Cespedes then singled, and Daniel Murphy grounded out to push in the first run.
Michael Cuddyer then lined a double to left field to make it 2-0.
After Wilmer Flores singled, Michael Conforto drove in the third Mets run of the inning with a single of his own to right field.
In the sixth inning after the first two batters were set down, Michael Conforto hit a double, and was driven in by a liner up the middle from Juan Uribe.
Michael Cuddyer’s hot play continued in the eighth inning, as he blasted a two-run shot to left field, his tenth of the season.
In the ninth inning, after the Phillies made it a ball game in the bottom of the eighth by putting up a four spot, the Mets answered back with three more of their own.
Juan Lagares reached on a fielding error to start the inning, and then scored from first on a double and error off the bat of Curtis Granderson.
Yoenis Cespedes roped a triple to right field to plate another, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Daniel Murphy, to increase the Mets lead to 9-4, which the score would stay for the remainder of the game.
On deck:
Jon Niese (8-9, 3.80 ERA) will look to lead the Mets to a sweep against the Phillies tomorrow night, and will square off against former Met Aaron Harang (5-14, 4.67 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 PM.
