Mets 9, Phillies 4
NEW YORK -- Ruben Tejada collected two hits, including an inside-the-park home run, and four RBIs on Wednesday night as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-4 at Citi Field.
The Mets (74-59) took two of three from the Phillies (53-81) to ensure they remained at least 6 1/2 games ahead of the Washington Nationals in the National League East.
Tejada hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run second inning, had an RBI grounder in the fifth and laced a run-scoring single in the seventh. He finished one RBI shy of his career high set Sept. 5, 2010.
Second baseman Kelly Johnson opened the Mets' scoring with an RBI single in the second and finished with two hits and two runs. An inning later, first baseman Daniel Murphy had an RBI double and left fielder Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer. Murphy left after the third inning with discomfort in his left quad.
Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes had three hits, including a solo homer in the eighth. Catcher Travis d'Arnaud had three hits as well and third baseman David Wright added two hits and two runs.
Right-hander Matt Harvey (12-7) picked up the win despite allowing four runs, nine hits and one walk while striking out nine in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed as many runs Wednesday as he did in his previous six starts combined.
Phillies pinch-hitter Erik Kratz delivered a two-run double in the sixth, two batters before second baseman Cesar Hernandez hit an RBI single. Rookie right fielder Darnell Sweeney homered in the seventh.
Rookie right-hander Aaron Nola (5-2) took the loss after allowing six runs, nine hits and no walks while striking out four in a career-low four innings. He gave up just four runs and nine hits in his previous three starts combined.
Johnson laced a two-out, RBI double before Tejada hit a sinking liner to right. Domonic Brown tried to make a lunging catch but missed and fell over the wall in foul territory.
Hernandez raced all the way to the warning track to get the ball as Tejada motored around the bases for the Mets' first inside-the-park homer since Angel Pagan did it May 19, 2010.
Brown was shaken up but initially remained in the game before leaving after the third.
In the bottom of the third, Murphy delivered a one-out, RBI double and scored on Conforto's two-out homer to left.
The Phillies cut the gap in half in the fifth when Kratz -- pinch-hitting for Nola -- hit a two-run double before scoring on a two-out infield single by Hernandez.
The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning when Tejada's RBI groundout extended the lead to 7-3.
NOTES: The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by new St. John's men's basketball coach Chris Mullin. The campus is located about six miles from Citi Field. ... New York LHP Steven Matz, activated from the disabled list Tuesday, will start in place of rookie RHP Noah Syndergaard on Sunday against the Miami Marlins. Syndergaard is being skipped to cut his innings. ... Mets INF Wilmer Flores traveled home to Venezuela to be with his grandfather, who suffered a heart attack. ... Phillies 3B Maikel Franco (broken left wrist) felt pain while taking 20 dry swings in the batting cage. Franco, who was injured Aug. 11, might be done for the season. ... The Phillies' 14-8 win over the Mets on Tuesday was the highest-scoring game at Citi Field, which opened in 2009.