The Mets (69-66, 12.5 GB in NL East, 4.0 GB in second Wild Card) clinched the weekend series in Philadelphia, recording their second straight win with Saturday's 5-3 edge of the Phillies (69-65, 12.0 GB in NL East, 3.5 GB for second Wild Card). >> Box score
Five takeaways from Friday's game
1) LHP Steven Matz (9-8) was solid again for the Mets, scattering three runs (two earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts to one walk in 5.0 innings. Phillies RF Bryce Harper drove in two runs on a first-inning fielder's choice and sixth-inning solo home run, and Matz walked the bases loaded before walking PH Andrew Knapp later in the sixth, but he recorded his latest quality start and gave the Mets a chance to win. Matz outlasted former teammate and Phillies LHP Jason Vargas (6-7), whom the Mets knocked out in the top of the fourth inning. Vargas allowed five runs on nine hits, striking out two and walking three.
2) Another day, another hit -- well, three, to be exact -- for C Wilson Ramos, who kept his MLB-best active streak with a 4-for-5 outing. He wasted no time extending the run to 24 games, singling in the top of the first inning to bring home SS Amed Rosario and put the Mets on the board with a 1-0 lead. Ramos struck again in the top of the third and fifth innings, respectively, spreading two more singles for the multihit performance. For good measure, he started the top of the ninth inning with his fourth hit, going the other way and piecing a leadoff double over RF Bryce Harper's head.
3) Beyond Ramos, the Mets received timely hits from others in their lineup. RF Michael Conforto broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the third inning with one of his two hits on the day when he sprayed a line drive to right field, scoring LF J.D. Davis. 3B Todd Frazier -- whose 2-for-4 night Friday with six RBI propelled the Mets' 11-5 outburst against the Phillies -- carried momentum from Saturday when he knocked his one-out RBI double down the left-field line and scored Ramos while Conforto moved to third, igniting a three-run inning in the fifth. 2B Joe Panik struck next when he doubled into right field, clearing the bases by bringing Conforto and Frazier home.
4) The Mets refused to take the foot off the gas, scratching across another run for the bottom frame. Clinging to a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, they created further separation and cement their 6-3 lead. Frazier stepped up yet again, singling to left field and scoring Ramos. Frazier's second straight multhit game featured a 3-for-4 evening at the plate with two RBI.
5) RHP Seth Lugo closed the door in the eighth and ninth innings, recording a six-out save over the two scoreless frames. His fourth save of the season featured four strikeouts -- including two straight to start the ninth -- and one hit. Lugo's performance followed two shutout innings in the sixth and seventh from LHP Luis Avilan, RHP Jeurys Familia and LHP Justin Wilson.
Highlights
Video: Mets bats stay hot, roll past Phillies 6-3
What's next
The Mets look for the sweep against the Phillies on Sunday night at 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park. Mets RHP Marcus Stroman (7-12, 3.29 ERA) will face off against Phillies RHP Zach Eflin (8-11, 4.50 ERA).