Final Score: Mets 6, Phillies 3—Double Agent Vargas

The Mets secured a series victory and picked up a game on the Cubs in the wild card race today, as they defeated the Phillies 6-3. Steven Matz picked up the win over former Met Jason Vargas, who was saddled with the loss.

Both teams got on the board in the first inning, as Wilson Ramos hit a one-out RBI single in the top of the inning (which extended his hitting streak to 24 games) and Bryce Harper got an RBI groundout in the bottom of the frame. Matz was able to bear down for the next few innings, whereas Vargas was tagged for another run in the third thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Michael Conforto. The wheels fell off for good for the former Mets starter in the top of the fifth inning, as he allowed the first four batters of the inning to reach base—punctuated by back-to-back doubles by Todd Frazier (which scored one run) and Joe Panik (which scored two)—before departing from the game. By this point, the Mets had themselves a 5-1 lead.

The Phillies finally got to Matz again in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Harper led off the frame with a solo shot to left-center field. The next three baserunners subsequently reached base on an error and two singles, respectively, which prompted Mickey Callaway to pull his struggling starter. Luis Avilan was the first man out of the bullpen, and while he did retire his first batter, he then walked Andrew Knapp with the bases loaded to force in another run. The lead was down to two and the Phillies still had the bases loaded, but the Mets subsequently got exactly what they were praying for, as Adam Haseley hit a ground ball to second which they turned into a double play to retire the side.

Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson worked together to get through the seventh inning unscathed, and Seth Lugo came on for the eighth for two innings of work and got through his first one without a problem. The Mets then went to work on getting an insurance run, as Ramos and Conforto led off the top of the ninth with a double and single, respectively. Frazier once again came to the plate in a position to do damage, and once again he came through, as he knocked an RBI single to left to make it 6-3 Mets. The next three batters were unable to bring anymore runs home, but Lugo didn’t need any additional support, as he worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning in his second frame of work to secure the victory.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

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1. MetsFan4Decades: 133
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3. Gznuff: 104
4. deegie: 86
5. JR and the Off-Balance Shots: 86
6. Jets Mets Devils Nets 16: 49
7. stickguy: 39
8. LaRomaBella: 28
9. The Glider: 27
10. amazins8669: 23