Mets strive to build momentum in series finale vs. Phillies

New York Mets interim manager Andy Green was reminded again Saturday that winning is fun.

More importantly, so were the Mets.

They will look to earn a much-needed series win on Sunday afternoon when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of a three-game set.

Cionel Perez (3-3, 4.99 ERA) is slated to serve as an opener for the Mets against fellow left-hander Jesus Luzardo (6-4, 4.00) of the Phillies.

The Mets ended their seven-game skid and earned their first win under Green on Saturday. A.J. Ewing had the tie-breaking two-run single as part of a four-run sixth inning in a come-from-behind 6-2 victory.

Green, who spent the previous three-plus seasons heading the Mets' minor league department, was named interim manager Friday after the club dismissed Carlos Mendoza.

The win Saturday was Green's first as a skipper since Sept. 18, 2019, two days before he was fired by the San Diego Padres late in his fourth season as manager.

The victory also served as a reminder of the blueprint the Mets hoped they'd follow prior to the start of this disappointing season. At 35-48, New York is in last place in the National League East and nine games behind the Padres in the race for the third NL wild-card berth.

A quintet of pitchers combined on a five-hitter on Saturday and were supported offensively by the Mets' three highest-paid players -- Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette.

Lindor hit the game-tying two-run triple in the sixth inning before Soto and Bichette teamed up for insurance runs in the seventh. Soto laced an RBI triple and scored on Bichette's sacrifice fly to deep left.

Soto was sidelined from April 8-21 with a right calf strain. Lindor suffered a left calf strain on April 22 and remained out until Wednesday.

"Wins are fun," Green said. "Winning as a group is fun. And playing whatever part you play in that, that's fun. I think a lot of guys did a lot of really good things today. It was a cool team win where you could just talk about a bunch of different guys."

The loss snapped an eventful four-game winning streak for the Phillies, whose offense has gone quiet in New York.

The Phillies became the first team in history to hit the go-ahead homer in the ninth inning in three consecutive games in wins over the Washington Nationals from Tuesday through Thursday. Philadelphia scored 29 runs in the three victories.

On Friday, center fielder Derek Hill robbed Soto of a potential go-ahead two-run homer in the first inning of the Phillies' 2-1 win.

The four runs over the last two games are the fewest over consecutive contests for the Phillies since May 31-June 2, when they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-1 and beat the Padres 3-2.

Bryce Harper belted a two-run homer Saturday and was the only player to finish with multiple hits for the Phillies. But Harper ran into an out in the sixth inning as he tried to stretch a bloop single to shallow center.

"I didn't think Lindor was going to go get it and he did," Harper said. "Not one that I'm trying to go to second on aggressively."

Perez, who will be making his first big league start, tossed two scoreless innings in the Mets' 2-1 loss on Friday. He has a 9.35 ERA without a decision in eight career appearances against the Phillies.

Luzardo didn't factor into the decision in his most recent start last Tuesday, when he gave up five runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings in the Phillies' 14-9 win over the Nationals. He is 6-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 11 starts against the Mets.

--Field Level Media