Michael Conforto homered and collected a career-high six RBIs as the Mets defeated the Phillies, 9-4, on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.
For a full box score of the game, click here.
Things you should know about tonight's game...
1) Conforto had a two-run single in the fourth, a tie-breaking double in the seventh and a three-run shot in the ninth. It was his fifth multi-RBI effort in 16 games this month during which he's gone deep seven times while driving in a Major League-best 22 runs. Conforto has 15 homers and 45 RBIs in 56 games since the All-Star break.
2) Jeff McNeil had three hits and an RBI, Austin Jackson had a run-scoring double and Amed Rosario had a sacrifice fly, a single and a stolen base. Zack Wheeler singled for his 11th hit of the season which is tied with Jacob deGrom for the most among Mets pitchers.
3) Wheeler (12-7) allowed four runs on three hits -- all in the fifth inning -- and three walks while striking out four in seven innings to set a new career high in wins. He also hit three batters, two occurring in the fifth when he surrendered a three-run triple to J.P. Crawford and a game-tying sacrifice fly to Cesar Hernandez. It was the first time since July 14 and only the second time in 16 starts Wheeler (12-7) surrendered more than three runs.
4) Robert Gsellman and Drew Smith each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
News and notes...
New York improved to 11-5 this month and 26-17 (.605) in its last 43 games. The Mets are 11-6 against the Phillies this season and 5-3 at Citizens Bank Park where they have gone 44-20 (.688) in since 2012.
The Mets' 281 runs since the All-Star break is the third-highest total in the Majors behind the Cardinals (291) and Nationals (288). They've homered 20 times in their last 11 games and 49 times in 36 contests since Aug. 12, third-most in baseball behind the Yankees (51) and Dodgers (49).
Conforto's 26 home runs are one shy of his career-high set last season. He has 14 homers and 44 RBIs in 46 career games against the Phillies, his most against any opponent.
McNeil has collected three or more hits in seven of his first 52 career games, the highest total in club history in that span.
Wheeler became the first Met to win nine or more games in the second half since Steven Trachsel in 2001. He set a new personal best by allowing six or fewer hits for the 11th straight start.
What's next...
The Mets (70-80) continue their series with the Phillies (76-73) on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park at 7 p.m. on SNY.
Steven Matz (5-11, 4.11 ERA/4.68 FIP, 136 K's, 1.236 WHIP) takes the mound looking to snap a winless streak that stretched to seven starts. The southpaw allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings during a no-decision against the Marlins last Thursday. It was the first time in four outings he surrendered more than two runs. Matz is winless with a 4.58 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies, including this year where he's surrendered nine runs -- seven earned -- in 12 innings.
Aaron Nola (16-5, 2.42 ERA/2.97 FIP, 201 K's, 0.971 WHIP) makes his 31st start of the season and sixth against the Mets. The 25-year-old has seen his ERA rise from 2.10 to 2.42 since the beginning of September thanks to a 5.60 mark in three starts this month. He surrendered four runs in five innings in a loss to the Nationals last Wednesday. He is 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five starts against New York this season and 6-1 with a 3.38 mark in eight career matchups.