Bryce Harper hit two home runs, and Cal Stevenson contributed a two-run double in the seventh inning, along with a spectacular catch in the eighth, leading the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-4 comeback win over the New York Mets on Saturday.
J.T. Realmuto also added an RBI double for the Phillies, who have won 10 of their last 13 games and are eight games ahead of the Mets in the division.
The teams will finish their three-game series on Sunday afternoon, and then the Mets will host the Phillies for four games from September 19-22.
“Really good team win today,” Harper said. “It’s a big win. That’s a good team over there, and they’re playing well.”
Starling Marte had a single, a triple, and three RBIs, and Luisangel Acuña had two singles in his major league debut for the Mets, who lost only their third game in 15. New York is tied with Atlanta for the last National League wild card spot after the Braves defeated the Dodgers at home.
Down 4-0, Harper hit his first home run off starter Luis Severino with one out in the fourth inning, a 397-foot drive to the opposite field off an 85 mph changeup.
He closed the gap to 4-3 in the sixth with a two-run homer off an 87 mph slider on a 3-2 count. Harper, who hadn’t homered since August 9, now has 28 home runs this year.
“It felt like a playoff atmosphere, felt like a big situation,” Harper said. “I love that.”
The Phillies took the lead in the seventh inning. Danny Young (4-1) gave up singles to Bryson Stott and Realmuto to start the inning, with both advancing on Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice bunt. Young slammed his glove and hat into the bench in frustration after being replaced by manager Carlos Mendoza with Reed Garrett.
Garrett struck out pinch-hitter Weston Wilson before Stevenson hit a 3-2, 92-mph cutter to the wall in right field, scoring Stott and Realmuto. “Just a huge at-bat by him,” Harper said.
Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Carlos Estévez closed out the game in the ninth for his 26th save in 31 opportunities and his sixth save in eight chances since joining the Phillies before the trade deadline.
Hoffman received help from Stevenson in center field, who made a leaping catch at the wall to rob J.D. Martinez of a home run for the first out of the eighth inning.
Orion Kerkering (5-2) pitched a perfect seventh inning after Taijuan Walker threw three scoreless innings in relief of starter Kolby Allard.
New York gave Severino a four-run lead. Marte drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning and later hit a two-run triple off Allard in the Mets’ three-run third inning, continuing his strong performance against Philadelphia. Marte has a .375 career batting average against the Phillies.
Allard, who is the fourth different No. 5 starter used in as many rotations, pitched only three innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.
Walker, who the Phillies signed to a four-year, $72 million free-agent contract before the 2023 season, performed well in his new role after being moved to the bullpen due to struggles as a starter.
“He’s a great teammate,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said about Walker. “He’s handled this like a pro.” Walker was pleased to make a positive impact.
“It feels good,” he said. “I feel like I haven’t done a good job of helping the team this year. Today was the best I felt all year.”
Acuña got his first hit with a single to center field off Walker in the fourth inning and started the ninth with a single to center off Estévez.
Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., is one of the top prospects in the organization. He hit .258 with 40 steals while playing second base, shortstop, and center field for Triple-A Syracuse.
