Photo Credits: USA Today

After losing their last two games against the Giants, the Mets (30-17) returned to Citi Field Friday evening to take on the Phillies (21-25). So far this season, the Mets have not lost more than two games in a row, and they were hoping to keep that streak alive. Lucky for New York, they have Pete Alonso, who had four RBIs in the game. This helped lead the Mets to an 8-6 victory.

The Mets took advantage of the iffy Phillies’ defense in the first inning. Brandon Nimmo reached on a throwing error by the shortstop Bryson Stott. After the Mets got the bases loaded, thanks to a Starling Marte single and a Francisco Lindor walk, Nimmo and Marte scored on back-to-back shallow fly balls to right. They both used their speed to take advantage of Nick Castellanos’s inaccurate arm. Lindor would also score on a Mark Canha base hit, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead.

The Mets added to their lead in third inning, when Alonso hit a two-run homer following a second walk to Lindor. They followed this up with more runs in the fourth inning.

Marte singled, stole second, and advanced to third on the errant throw from Phillies’ back-up catcher Garrett Stubbs. Lindor hit an opposite field single to score Marte, giving Lindor his 10th RBI in four games. Alonso then doubled for his second hit of the night, which scored Lindor, giving Alonso his fourth RBI of the night. At this point, the Mets had a 7-0 lead.

The lead would be safe until the sixth inning when starter, Carlos Carrasco, who had pitched well for the first five innings, ran into trouble. The first two Phillies’ hitters reached base that inning thanks to softly hit infield singles. The next two batters had hits that weren’t much harder, but the Phillies scored two runs. After Carrasco struck out Schwarber to get the first out of the inning, the Phillies scored another run on a slowly hit ground out to third base, cutting the Mets’ lead 7-3.

Unfortunately, Carrasco did not make it out of the sixth inning, and Chasen Shreve came on in relief. Shreve promptly gave up a three-run homer to Stubbs, and the Phillies were very much back in the game, down 7-6.

The Mets got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, giving them an 8-6 lead. Tomás Nido walked to start the inning. He reached third on double off the wall by Nimmo that Castellanos was unable to catch. Marte then grounded out to the shortstop, which allowed to Nido to score. The Mets did not score again for the rest of the game.

Drew Smith pitched the seventh inning for the Mets, and other than a lead-off walk, pitched a shutdown inning to keep the score 8-6. Joely Rodríguez started the eighth inning and gave up a walk and double, both to left-handed batters, before striking out Stubbs. Lugo was brought in to face pinch hitter J.T. Realmuto and got him to pop out to Alonso in foul territory on the first pitch of the at-bat for the final out of the inning.

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Edwin Díaz came on for the save in the ninth. After blowing two of his last three save opportunities, the Mets needed him to be solid this outing. Outside of a broken bat, bloop hit by Alec Bohm, Diaz was spectacular, striking out three to secure the Mets’ victory.

Player of the Game: Pete Alonso

Alonso has been a monster at the plate so far this year. His 45 RBIs is a Mets’ record before Memorial Day. Outside of a couple of problematic errors earlier in the season, he has also been more than serviceable at first base. Alonso played a very good first base Friday night. In particular, he made a great play in second inning, diving to his left to keep the ball on the infield and stopping the Phillies from scoring.

On Deck

The Mets and Phillies are set to meet again Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 P.M. and the game will be aired on Fox. Taijuan Walker will get the start for the Mets, Zach Eflin for the Phillies.