Cal Stevenson delivered a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh and then robbed a home run in the eighth as the host Philadelphia Phillies notched a 6-4 win over the New York Mets on Saturday.
Bryce Harper hit two home runs for Philadelphia (89-59), which moved eight games ahead of New York (81-67) in the National League East standings.
The Phillies and Mets conclude their three-game series with the rubber match Sunday before reuniting for a four-game set in New York next weekend.
Starling Marte drove in three runs for the Mets, who had won 12 of their previous 14 games. Luisangel Acuna, the brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna, made his major league debut for New York and went 2-for-4.
The Phillies trailed 4-0 early before Harper began to chip away. His 27th homer — and his first since Aug. 9 — made it a 4-1 game in the fourth before he added a two-run shot in the sixth — his 150th home run as a Phillie — to get the hosts within 4-3.
Both home runs came off Mets starter Luis Severino, who was charged with three runs in six innings. He allowed three hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
Danny Young (4-1) took over for the seventh and allowed back-to-back hits to Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto. Brandon Marsh sacrificed the runners into scoring position and, two batters later, Stevenson hooked a two-run double into right field against Reed Garrett.
Stevenson was not done, however. J.D. Martinez led off the top of the eighth with a deep drive to center field, but Stevenson made a full-extension leaping catch at the wall to preserve the Phillies’ lead.
Realmuto provided an insurance run with an RBI double in the eighth. He finished 2-for-4 after missing a week with a sore knee.
Koby Allard started for Philadelphia but was pulled after allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings. Taijuan Walker tossed three scoreless innings of relief, followed by Orion Kerkering (5-2), Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Esteves, who closed it out for his 26th save.
–Field Level Media