Phillies crush Mets 12-2 on Bohm to clinch playoff spot, move closer to NL East title
NEW YORK — Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run home run, and the The Philadelphia Phillies have clinched their third consecutive playoff berth in style by beating the New York Mets 12-2 on Friday night.
Nick Castellanos had three hits and drove in two runs, JT Realmuto added a two-run homer and the Phillies (92-62) extended their NL East lead to seven games over the second-place Mets (85-69) with eight games remaining.
“I thought it was a great night overall,” manager Rob Thomson said.
Guaranteed at least a wild card in the National League, the Phillies can clinch their first division title since 2011 with one more victory this weekend against their rival Mets at Citi Field.
“We’ve worked really hard all season, six months, for this,” winning pitcher Cristopher Sánchez said through a translator. “I think it’s just beautiful that it happened today. Something really special for us.”
With the division crown so close, the Phillies remained relaxed in the postgame locker room with a champagne toast to their Thomson-led achievement.
“It’s pretty calm and relaxed compared to what it usually gets,” Bohm said with a laugh.
They hope to unleash themselves soon with a boozy party in the locker room after securing first place.
“It’ll be a little more hectic, for sure,” Bohm said.
Philadelphia’s victory, combined with Atlanta’s 4-3 loss to last-place Miami, eliminated the Braves from contention for the NL East crown, ending their six-year reign atop the division.
New York, which had won four straight and 16 of its last 20, fell one game behind Arizona for the second of three National League wild cards. But the Mets remained two games ahead of Atlanta for the league’s final playoff spot.
Cheers erupted from the crowd of 41,474, subdued after an energetic start, when the final score of the Atlanta game was displayed on the out-of-town scoreboard.
Philadelphia stole a season-high five bases, four in a six-run fourth inning capped by Bohm’s home run off reliever Adam Ottavino. Johan Rojas had a two-run double off starter David Peterson (9-3), who retired after just 64 pitches and 3 2/3 innings, his shortest start of the season.
“I thought they had some really good at-bats,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They made some good adjustments and put the barrel on the ball. I thought I had to be aggressive there. It didn’t work.”
Sánchez (11-9) overcame a tough start and walked a career-high five innings. Philadelphia beat the Mets 17-4.
“I liked our approach against Peterson. He’s really good,” Thomson said. “I think seeing him a second time in a week helped.”
Jose Iglesias hit his first career home run for New York, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.
Mets slugger J.D. Martinez went 0 for 3 with a walk and was hitless in 31 at-bats, the longest losing streak of his career.
“It’s been tough for him,” Mendoza said. “But he’s fighting and he’ll continue to fight.”
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Phillies: Outfielder Austin Hays (kidney infection) has worked out the past two days at Citi Field and will be the designated hitter in a rehab game Saturday against Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is expected to play in the field Sunday and could be removed from the disabled list Tuesday. … Right-handed pitcher Spencer Turnbull (right lat strain) is expected to pitch two innings Sunday for Lehigh Valley and then return to the team’s training complex in Florida to continue his rehab. Thomson didn’t completely rule out the possibility of Turnbull pitching for the Phillies in the postseason. Turnbull has been on the disabled list since June 27.
Mets: Francisco Lindor (back pain) has missed five straight games and pitched only one inning in the last seven years. He received a numbing injection for the facet joints on each side of his spine. “I’m trying to do whatever it takes to get back as soon as possible. Without that,” Lindor said, “I didn’t feel like I could get back sooner than later.” The All-Star shortstop ran, played catch and took a few turns in batting practice on the right side. Before the game, Mendoza said if Lindor felt good enough to participate in baseball activities, it was possible he could return to the lineup Saturday. … Right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga (strained left calf) won’t throw more than two innings and 30 to 35 pitches in a rehab outing Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse. If all goes well, he could come off the 60-day injured list and be available to play a role Friday at Milwaukee. “Ultimately, we’ll have to make a decision on what’s best for the team,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. … Catcher Francisco Alvarez and outfielder Tyrone Taylor were rested.
FOLLOWING
All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.13 ERA) pitches Saturday for Philadelphia against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.26), who has lasted at least 6 2/3 innings in seven straight outings.
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