Phillies use outburst in seventh to beat Mets, take NL East lead

Trea Turner's RBI double snapped a tie and sparked a six-run seventh inning for the Philadelphia Phillies, who completed their surge into first place in the National League East by beating the reeling New York Mets 10-2 in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

The Phillies, who have won eight of nine, have made up a 5 1/2-game deficit on the Mets in the last eight days.

The Mets have lost seven straight by a combined 51-16. The losing streak is the longest for New York since a seven-game skid from June 2-9, 2023.

Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil hit back-to-back homers off former teammate Taijuan Walker to tie the game in the sixth before the Phillies mounted their rally against Reed Garrett (2-3) and Justin Garza.

Garrett, who allowed just seven runs (four earned) in his first 30 outings entering Friday night, failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. Brandon Marsh and Turner opened the frame with back-to-back doubles and Kyle Schwarber walked before Alec Bohm chased Garrett with a run-scoring single.

Nick Castellanos hit Garza's first pitch for an RBI single and Bryson Stott capped the outburst three batters later with a three-run double.

The rally made a winner of Tanner Banks (2-0), who tossed 1 2/3 perfect innings of relief.

Castellanos added a two-run homer in the eighth. He and Marsh had three hits apiece.

The Phillies went ahead 2-0 in the fourth, when Otto Kemp beat out the back end of a potential double play ball. Castellanos scored and Marsh followed with an RBI single.

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler gave up four hits and three walks while striking out eight over five scoreless innings.

Brandon Nimmo and Luis Torrens each had two hits for the Mets.

Rookie Blake Tidwell, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse Friday to make his second big-league start, allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 3 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media