Eduardo Escobar laced the game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning for the host New York Mets, who overcame a ninth-inning deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 and complete a three-game sweep.
The Mets, who are 12-2-1 in 15 series this season, hold an 8 1/2-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East — New York’s biggest division lead at Memorial Day in franchise history.
The Phillies have lost five of six and 10 of 14 to fall 10 1/2 games behind the Mets in third place.
The Phillies took a 4-3 lead in the eighth, when Nick Castellanos hit a long homer to left. But the Mets tied it on the first pitch of the ninth, when Nick Plummer homered into the right field seats off Corey Knebel for his first career hit.
Edwin Diaz (2-1) tossed a hitless 10th — Escobar made a snow-cone catch while reaching over the dugout railing to record the first out on Kyle Schwarber’s pop-up — before Knebel (1-4) struck out Francisco Lindor to open the bottom half of the inning. Pete Alonso was intentionally walked before Escobar hit the next pitch into right field to easily score automatic runner Starling Marte.
The Phillies’ defensive struggles helped the Mets score three times in the first off Zack Wheeler, who gave up a leadoff double to Luis Guillorme and a single to Marte before getting Francisco Lindor to ground to first. Rhys Hoskins threw to second to try to force Marte, but his throw pulled shortstop Jean Segura off the bag and Marte was safe as Guillorme broke for home. The throw from Segura beat Guillorme but was wide of catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Alonso singled to load the bases before Escobar hit into a run-scoring fielder’s choice and Mark Canha delivered an RBI groundout.
Wheeler allowed just one runner beyond first base the rest of the way. The right-hander allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out seven over six innings.
The Phillies scratched out a run in the third, when they forced Mets starter Chris Bassitt to throw 34 pitches. Bassitt gave up a leadoff double to Odubel Herrera and walked Johan Camargo and Kyle Schwarber before Alec Bohm hit into a run-scoring double play.
Bassitt then walked Bryce Harper before retiring the final 10 batters he faced. He gave up two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in six innings.
–Field Level Media
