NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer, and the Philadelphia Phillies secured their third playoff spot in a row in style, sweeping the New York Mets 12-2 on Friday night.
Nick Castellanos had three hits and two RBIs, JT Realmuto added a two-run homer and the Phillies (92-62) extended their lead in the NL East to seven games over the second-place Mets (85-69) with eight games left to play.
“I thought it was just a great night overall,” said manager Rob Thomson.
With at least a wild card in the National League guaranteed, the Phillies can secure their first division title since 2011 with another win this weekend against the rival Mets at Citi Field.
“We’ve worked really hard all season, for six months,” said winning pitcher Cristopher Sánchez through an interpreter. “I think it’s just beautiful that this happened today. Something very special for us.”
With the division title so close, the Phillies took it easy in the locker room after the game and toasted their achievement with champagne under the leadership of Thomson.
“Pretty quiet and relaxed compared to what it normally is,” Bohm said with a chuckle.
They hope that after their first place, they can soon start with a boozy party in the locker room.
“It will definitely be a bit louder,” said Bohm.
Philadelphia’s win and Atlanta’s 4-3 loss at bottom-place Miami eliminated the Braves from the race for the NL East crown – and ended their six-year reign at the top of the division.
New York, which had won four straight games and 16 of 20, fell one game behind Arizona to secure the second of three NL wild cards, but the Mets remained two games ahead of Atlanta for the league’s final playoff spot.
When the final score of Atlanta’s game was displayed on the away scoreboard, a muted cheer broke out from the crowd of 41,474, even though the game was initially uneventful after an energetic start.
Philadelphia stole a season-best five bases — four of them in a six-run fourth inning capped by Bohm’s home run against reliever Adam Ottavino. Johan Rojas had a two-run double against starter David Peterson (9-3) but retired after just 64 pitches and 3 2/3 innings — his shortest start of the season.
“I thought they had some really good at-bats the second time around,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They made some good adjustments and hit the ball with the barrel. I thought I had to be aggressive there. It didn’t work.”
Sánchez (11-9) overcame a rocky start to set a career high with five walks in five innings as Philadelphia defeated the Mets 17-4.
“I liked our approach against Peterson. He’s really good,” Thomson said. “I think seeing him for the second time in a week helped.”
Jose Iglesias hit his first home run as the first batter for New York, increasing his hitting streak to 14 games.
Mets hitter JD Martinez went 0-for-3 with a walk and was hitless in 31 at-bats, the longest losing streak of his career.
“It’s been tough. It’s been hard for him,” Mendoza said. “But he’s fighting through it and he’s going to continue to fight through it.”
TRAINING ROOM
Phillies: OF Austin Hays (kidney infection) has practiced the past two days at Citi Field and will be the DH in a rehab game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday. He is scheduled to take the field Sunday and may come off the injured list Tuesday. … RHP Spencer Turnbull (right latissimus strain) is scheduled to throw two innings for Lehigh Valley on Sunday and then return to the team’s training complex in Florida to continue his rehab. Thomson has not completely ruled out the possibility of Turnbull pitching for the Phillies in the postseason. Turnbull has been on the injured list since June 27.
Mets: Francisco Lindor (back soreness) has missed five straight games and pitched just one inning in the last seven. He received a numbing injection for the facet joints on both sides of his spine. “I’m trying everything I can to get back as soon as possible. Without that injection,” Lindor said, “it didn’t feel like I could come back sooner or later.” The star shortstop ran, played catch and took a few rounds of batting practice from the right side. Before the game, Mendoza said if Lindor feels well enough to go through baseball activities, he might be able to return to the lineup Saturday. … RHP Kodai Senga (left calf strain) will throw no more than two innings and 30-35 pitches in a rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. If all goes well, he could come off the 60-day injured list and be available in some role as a pitcher on Friday in Milwaukee. “Ultimately, we have to decide what’s best for the team,” said David Stearns, president of baseball operations. … C Francisco Alvarez and OF Tyrone Taylor were rested.
Next
All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.13 ERA) will pitch for Philadelphia on Saturday against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.26), who has lasted at least 6 2/3 innings in seven consecutive games.
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