Zac Thornton and the Mets (69-84) took on the Phillies (85-68) in the second game of a four-game set at Citi Field. Thornton made his second-to-last start of the season, looking to finish off a wonderful rookie season. He would do just that, pitching six innings of two-run ball in the Mets 6-3 win

Thornton took the mound for the top of the first, looking to begin his outing without allowing a run. The rookie would do just that, working around a leadoff walk to retire the side.

Francisco Lindor began the bottom of the first with a double, and after Juan Soto flew out, Bo Bichette added a single to make it first and third with one out. Carson Benge came up and rifled a single past the shortstop, giving the Mets an early lead. Mark Vientos worked a walk to load the bases, and the Phillies were forced to pull Tim Mayza, their opener, from the game. A.J. Ewing, the other half of the “psychopaths,” added two more on a single where he advanced to second base. Nothing more would come of the inning, but the Mets led 3-0 after one inning.

After he retired the first batter of the inning in the top of the second, Thornton allowed a single and a double, the second of which was on a catchable ball to Ewing that cut into the Mets’ lead. Nothing more came of the inning, with the Mets still holding a 3-1 lead.

A pitcher’s duel began following the second inning until the top of the sixth. In that inning, Thornton, who had been going strong, allowed a solo home run that cut the Mets’ lead to 3-2 before retiring the side and ending his outing.

Thornton’s final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K, W

The Mets made an effort to pad the lead in the bottom of the inning, with Marcus Semien and Luis Torrens singling with just one out in the inning. After Lindor struck out, Soto blasted a 428-foot home run, driving in three and giving the Mets a 6-2 advantage.

Juan Soto by Roberto Carlo

Nate Lavender replaced Thornton in the top of the seventh. The reliable left hander allowed a solo home run that cut the Mets’ lead to 6-3, but allowed no further damage before retiring the side.

After the Mets failed to score in the bottom of the inning, Lavender came back out for a second inning of work, getting the first two outs. He was then replaced by Dedniel Núñez, who made quick work of his one batter, retiring the side.

The Mets got the bats going once again in the bottom of the eighth, with Brett Baty walking and Lindor adding a one-out single to put two runners on with one out for Soto. The slugger would add a single to an impressive night, loading the bases for Bichette. However, Bichette grounded into a 1-2-3 double play that ended the inning without the Mets scoring a run.

Núñez stayed on to try and close out the game for the Mets in the top of the ninth inning. The right-hander would do just that, setting the Phillies down in order and tying up the series up at a game apiece.

Player of the Game: Juan Soto

Soto was in peak form on Friday night, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run. His three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth was blasted almost 430 feet at 109.4 MPH, giving the Mets what proved to be an insurmountable lead. Soto is having what can only be described as a Juan Soto season, despite injuries to his calf. With Friday’s home run, he brought his season total to 26, and with a very hot final eight games, could possibly reach 30 before the end of the year.

On Deck

The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. EST in the third contest of the four-game set against the Phillies. Christian Scott will make the start, looking to add another good outing to a very solid campaign. The game will stream live on SNY, with radio coverage on WCBS 880 and the Audacy app.