Mets 9, Phillies 4
PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Bartolo Colon threw seven shutout innings, and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-4 Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park for their sixth consecutive victory.
New York scored three first-inning runs, then added a combined five runs in the final two innings.
The Mets (70-56), in first place of the National League East, are 17-6 in August and 23-5 in their past 28 games against Philadelphia, including 11-1 this season.
The last-place Phillies (50-77) lost their third straight. They still own the major leagues' worst record despite a 21-15 second-half mark.
Colon (11-11), who entered Wednesday night 1-7 with a 5.54 ERA over his previous 11 starts, stymied the Phillies, striking out eight while allowing five hits and two walks.
First baseman Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBIs to lead the Mets' offense, which has homered 10 times over the first three games of the four-game set. New York center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, shortstop Wilmer Flores and left fielder Michael Conforto collected two hits apiece.
Cuddyer's long ball, a second-deck shot, came in the top of the eighth inning to extend New York's lead from 4-0 to 6-0.
Philadelphia answered with four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Third baseman Andres Blanco hit an RBI groundout, catcher Cameron Rupp drove in two with a double, and pinch hitter Jeff Francoeur added an RBI single.
With two outs and the tying run on base, reliever Tyler Clippard struck out second baseman Darnell Sweeney to quell the threat.
The Mets came right back with three runs in the ninth with the help of two errors by Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis.
Philadelphia right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (1-1) took his first big-league loss in his second start and first at home. He went six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) while striking out six.
Eickhoff threw a 40-pitch first inning that started with a blunder by center fielder Odubel Herrera. Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson, the game's opening batter, hit a high fly ball to center field in which Herrera tracked down but dropped near the wall for a two-base error.
The Mets capitalized by batting around and collecting three runs on four hits. Second baseman Daniel Murphy plated Granderson on an RBI groundout. Cuddyer hit an RBI double, and Conforto delivered an RBI single.
Eickhoff settled down, retiring 16 straight before yielding another run in the sixth.
NOTES: Mets 3B David Wright was not in the lineup after starting the first two games in his return from the disabled list. Wright, who went 2-for-9 with a home run in the two games, was sidelined for more than four months with a hamstring injury and lower-back stenosis. Juan Uribe started in his place. ... Phillies 2B Darnell Sweeney made his first major league start and led off. He was acquired by the Phillies in the trade that sent 2B Chase Utley to the Los Angeles Dodgers. ... The Mets finish their four-game series with the Phillies on Thursday night. LHP Jonathon Niese (8-9, 3.80 ERA) is scheduled to start against Phillies RHP Aaron Harang (5-14, 4.67).