The opponent changed, but the Mets just carried on on Thursday.

After putting the helpless Nationals under pressure for two days in a row, coach Carlos Mendoza’s team braced itself for a bigger challenge against the NL East leaders, even with weak point Taijuan Walker on the Phillies’ mound.

Walker had pitched three innings as a relief pitcher last Saturday to help the Phillies beat the Mets, but he took additional batting practice that evening.

The Mets hit four home runs against the right-hander and won 10-6 in front of 35,982 spectators at Citi Field.

The Mets, who also scored 10 runs in each of their last two victories over the Nationals, won their fourth straight and for the 16th time in their last 20 games.

They remained tied with Arizona in the battle for the NL’s second wild card and defended their two-game lead over Atlanta for third place.

Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez all hit home runs, while Francisco Lindor missed his fourth consecutive game due to back pain.

Luis Severino wasn’t at his best, but kept the Mets competitive by allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks, as well as seven strikeouts in six innings.

It was Severino’s second consecutive start against the Phillies, and in both he allowed three runs in six innings.

Vientos and Alonso hit two home runs in a row in the first inning, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

It was the sixth time this season that the Mets hit two home runs in a row.

Vientos’ goal was his 25th of the season and Alonso extended his team’s lead with his 34th.

After Trea Turner hit a home run in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2 – Kyle Schwarber had reached first base with a two-out single before Turner hit – the Mets got going again in the bottom half of the inning. Jose Iglesias hit a leadoff single and Nimmo cleared the fence in right center.

Severino battled through the fourth inning, allowing two hits and a walk to cut the deficit to 4-3. Brandon Marsh hit an RBI single with two outs after a walk to JT Realmuto.

Alvarez’s rocket-like three-run victory in the fourth inning was the highlight of an inning in which the Mets sent ten batters to the plate and scored five runs.

JD Martinez was caught early in the drive and Tyrone Taylor walked before Alvarez hit a high sinker for his second home run in three games and his fourth since September 11.

But the Mets continued to gain ground in this inning. Iglesias hit a single and Nimmo’s RBI double put the Phillies in an 8-3 hole.

Vientos’ ensuing RBI single passed the baton before Alonso got walks and Jesse Winker loaded the bases. But the good times ended when Martinez threw a ball into a double play that ended the inning.

Danny Young allowed three runs in the seventh inning, cutting the Mets’ lead to 9-6.

The big hit of the inning was Bryce Harper’s double against Reed Garrett, which brought in two runs.

Luisangel Acuna delivered an RBI triple in the seventh inning that extended the Mets’ lead to 10-6.

This was just the latest contribution from the rookie, who had hit a home run in each of his previous two games.