Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer, as the Philadelphia Phillies celebrated their third straight playoff appearance by defeating the New York Mets 12-2 on Friday night.
Nick Castellanos contributed with three hits and two RBIs, while J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer. With this win, the Phillies (92-62) increased their NL East lead to seven games over the second-place Mets (85-69), with eight games left to play.
“I thought it was just a great night,” manager Rob Thomson said.
With at least a National League wild card secured, the Phillies can clinch their first division title since 2011 with one more victory this weekend against the Mets at Citi Field.
“We work really hard all season, six months for this,” winning pitcher Cristopher Sánchez said through a translator. “I think it’s just something beautiful that this happened today. Something really special for us.”
As the division title is within reach, the Phillies kept the celebration low-key in the clubhouse, sharing a champagne toast led by Thomson.
“Pretty calm and relaxed from what it usually turns into,” Bohm said with a chuckle.
They are looking forward to a bigger celebration once they secure first place. “It’ll be a little more rowdy, for sure,” Bohm said.
Philadelphia’s win, combined with Atlanta’s 4-3 loss to last-place Miami, eliminated the Braves from the NL East title race, ending their six-year reign in the division.
The Mets, who had won four straight and 16 of their last 20 games, fell a game behind Arizona for the second of three NL wild card spots but remained two games ahead of Atlanta for the last playoff spot.
