Phillies offense comes alive in ninth in victory against the Mets

Final: Phillies 7, Mets 2

Coming off yet another low-point of the season, the Philadelphia Phillies (46-42) needed a response against a New York Mets (39-49) team they swept in four games a little more than a week ago. The offense came alive in the ninth Friday evening against an underperforming back-end of the Mets bullpen to take the first game of the three game set by a score of 7-2.

The Phillies offense got to work early in the first of a three game weekend series. On the very first pitch of the game, Scott Kingery, the team’s most consistent hitter, launched a 97 mph fastball into the second deck in left-center for his first career lead-off home run:

Nice call from the birthday boy @TMacPhils.
pic.twitter.com/STyjOQRJ9H

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 5, 2019

Starter Vince Velasquez was solid early on, shutting down a talented Mets lineup the first time through the order.

The Mets, however, were able to crack the scoreboard with a solo home run from Pete Alonso. Alonso, who was just named the NL Rookie of the Month for the second time this year, jumped on a 1-2 middle-of-the-plate fastball and launched his 29th no-doubt-about-it home run:

The Mets rookie sensation does it again.
pic.twitter.com/uGUBXf6iRB

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) July 6, 2019

Alonso came in clutch again in his next at-bat. After fouling off a poorly placed fastball from Velasquez, Alonso was gifted another, driving it into the right-center field gap for an RBI double that gave the Mets their first lead of the ballgame:

What's the deal with all these RBI, @Pete_Alonso20? pic.twitter.com/rkLgAKLRWS

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 6, 2019

The Phillies finally responded in the seventh.

After a Rhys Hoskins walk, J.T. Realmuto delivered the team’s first hit since Kingery’s first inning home run in the form of a stand-up double. A couple batters later, Hoskins came home to score off an RBI groundout from Cesar Hernandez, tying the game at two apiece. With only one out, the Phillies had two opportunities to take the lead, but Maikel Franco grounded out and pinch-hitter Andrew Knapp struck out to end the threat.

The bullpen responded well after one of its worst outings of the season last night in Atlanta. Jose Alvarez, Tommy Hunter and Adam Morgan combined to throw two shutout innings to keep the team in the game.

The game remained tied going into the ninth. The Mets opted to give the ball to closer Edwin Diaz. In his last outing against the Phillies, Diaz gave up the game-winning home run to Jean Segura in the bottom of the ninth in the series finale at Citizens Bank Park. More of the same was in store for Diaz and the Mets.

Realmuto began the inning with a double down the line in left. The next batter, Bruce, then brought him home with a clutch base-hit up the middle. The Phillies then followed with RBI hits from Sean Rodriguez, Jean Segura and Bryce Harper, capping off a five-run ninth-inning outburst.

Hector Neris came on and shut the door in the bottom of the ninth.

The Phillies will look to continue to beat up on the Mets on Saturday. Jake Arrieta will pitch in his second nationally televised game of the season. The task-in-hand won’t get much easier for the Phils offense as they’ll face Noah Syndergaard for the second time this season.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Vince Velasquez:

5.0 IP 6H 2R 2ER 0BB 3Ks 1HR 79 pitches

Jacob deGrom 

7.0 IP 3H 2R 2ER 3BB 10Ks 1HR 102 pitches

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Jay Bruce

The man who was traded twice by the Mets was the one to come up big for the Phils. His base hit in the ninth, his only hit of the game, scored the go-ahead run and catapulted the Phillies into a ninth inning hitting spree. The acquisition of Bruce will surely go down as one of Matt Klentak’s best moves of his tenure.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Saturday at 7:15 P.M @ New York Mets
• FOX (nationally televised game)
• SportsRadio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680 (Spanish)