McNeil's homer lifts Mets; Phillies slip in playoff race

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the seventh inning, and the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 3-2 Sunday night, damaging the Phillies’ playoff hopes.

The Phillies, who were trying to complete a three-game sweep, blew a two-run lead and fell two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and 3 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second NL wild card.

“Anytime you’re able to come in here and win two out of three, it’s big for us, especially in the spot that we’re in,” said Bryce Harper, who scored the Phillies’ first run and drove in their second before ending the game with a deep fly out to left.

The Mets snapped a five-game losing streak and remained 5 1/2 games behind the Braves — whom they visit in the final series of the season — and seven games behind the Cardinals.

“If we can put ourselves in a position when we play Atlanta — obviously, some other things have to happen — but I think there’s still an opportunity,” said Mets starting pitcher Rich Hill. “I always hold on hope to be able to see that there might be something that could be on the horizon. You never know.”

McNeil’s homer off Phillies starter Kyle Gibson was his first since Aug. 1 and gave the Mets their first lead since squandering a 3-2 advantage in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Cardinals.

“That felt really good — as soon as it came off the bat, I knew it was gone,” McNeil said.

Aaron Loup (6-0), the fifth of six Mets pitchers, walked Harper to load the bases in the sixth before getting J.T. Realmuto to hit into a fielder’s choice. He then worked around a two-hit single by Ronald Torreyes in the seventh to lower his ERA to 1.00 in 51 innings this season.

Loup...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/McNeil-s-homer-lifts-Mets-Phillies-slip-in-16471911.php