The Philadelphia Phillies pulled off another statement win on Thursday night. They overcame an early hole to beat the New York Mets 6-4 and seal a commanding four-game sweep.
Fueled by timely hitting and clutch pitching, the Phillies extended their dominance at a crucial stage of the season. Their bullpen slammed the door shut.
With the postseason looming, they now sit firmly atop the NL East. The struggling Mets are clinging desperately to their playoff hopes.
Phillies Complete Sweep with Resilient Comeback
The night couldn’t have started much worse for Philadelphia starter Jesús Luzardo. He gave up four runs in the first inning.
Instead of unraveling, Luzardo found his groove. He retired the next 22 batters he faced.
His dazzling performance included 10 strikeouts. Luzardo also hit a career milestone with his 200th strikeout of the season.
That relentless focus gave the Phillies’ offense time to chip away at the deficit. By the middle innings, the bats came alive in South Philly.
Kemp Leads the Comeback Charge
Otto Kemp delivered the big blows that sparked Philadelphia’s rally. The rookie outfielder launched a two-run homer in the fourth inning to cut the Mets’ lead in half.
Two innings later, he smacked a game-tying double. Kemp ended up driving in three of the Phillies’ six runs on the night.
Kemp wasn’t alone in delivering key hits. Bryce Harper added an RBI double in the fifth.
Later, Harper provided an infield single that gave the Phillies some breathing room in the late innings.
Clutch Hits and Shutdown Relief
The pivotal moment came in the sixth inning when Harrison Bader lined a go-ahead RBI single. That hit gave the Phillies their first lead of the night and shifted the momentum.
Duran Slams the Door
Once the lead was secured, the Phillies’ bullpen took command. The final 25 Mets hitters were retired in order.
Closer Jhoan Duran punctuated the performance by striking out the side in the ninth inning. He collected his 29th save of the season.
Standings Implications: Phillies on the Brink of Clinching
This latest victory puts the Phillies in firm control of the NL East. They have now won eight of their last 10 games.
Their division lead has expanded to 11 games with just 15 left to play. A second straight division crown is within reach and could be clinched as early as this weekend when they host the Kansas City Royals.
For the Mets, the loss was another blow in a tailspin that has now reached six consecutive defeats. They return home for a critical series against the Texas Rangers with Jacob deGrom set to take the mound.
The Mets desperately need to halt the skid to keep their wild card positioning — currently a slim 1½-game advantage — intact.
Looking Ahead: Key Series on the Horizon
The Phillies’ upcoming series against Kansas City carries significant postseason implications. It also comes with added intrigue — Walker Buehler is slated to make his first start for Philadelphia.
The addition of an experienced arm this late in the season could be the boost they need to finish strong. Maybe that’s what it takes to enter October at full strength.
Mets Fighting for Playoff Survival
Meanwhile, the Mets can’t afford more missteps. With the chasing pack in the wild card race closing in, they have to find a way to reset on their own turf.
The return of deGrom should provide an emotional lift. But unless the offense and bullpen step up, their playoff hopes could vanish in a hurry.
Final Thoughts
Thursday’s game really showed two teams moving in opposite directions. The Phillies looked like a true contender — tough, opportunistic, and pitching lights-out.
The Mets? They’re still searching for any kind of consistency, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Every game left feels like a must-win for them.
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Here is the source article for this story: Jesús Luzardo retires 22 straight batters after rough start as Philadelphia Phillies sweep New York Mets
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