Phils show mettle, split DH vs. 1st-place Mets

PHILADELPHIA -- Sunday just became more interesting for the Phillies.

They beat the Mets in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, 4-1, to maintain their lead over San Diego for the second NL Wild Card. It followed an 8-2 loss in Game 1, which began with a Mets fan inexplicably throwing out a first pitch, and a 7-2 loss in Friday’s series opener. The Phillies are 5-13 this season against New York, which has caused serious hand wringing among Phillies fans wondering if their team can beat the best teams in the National League.

Inside the Phillies clubhouse, however, players maintain they can.

“We know what kind of team we are,” Phillies ace Zack Wheeler said. “We need to win some ball games against, you know, some of these better teams like that. But at the end of the day, we've been playing well. It has been against lesser teams, but those are the games that you're supposed to win. And we have been winning those.

“You know you need to win those games to get to where we want to be. We all know that. We know what type of team we are. We're going to just keep pushing.”

A victory in Sunday’s series finale could change the narrative about the Mets. First, it will split the series. It would not be a minor feat, considering the Phillies entered the weekend 0-5 in series against New York this season.

Philadelphia was a combined 3-9 in its first four series against New York, but each of those came with Joe Girardi at the helm. That was a different team with a different vibe.

The Phillies played the Mets for the first time under interim manager Rob Thomson last weekend at Citi Field. They lost two of three, but they were a big hit away in the second game from winning that series. If the Phillies win Sunday, they can leave the ballpark saying they played better against New York down the stretch, which might play if these teams face each other in the postseason. They might think they are due if it happens, considering they were 0-9 this year in games started by Wheeler and Aaron Nola against the Mets.

But the club is confident anyway. Philly is 61-41 (.598) this season against everybody other than New York, including postseason contenders like the Dodgers (4-3), Cardinals (4-3), Braves (6-6), Padres (4-3) and Brewers (4-2).

“The playoffs are a funny thing, man,” Nick Castellanos said. “Anything can happen, you know? We have a really good team. We’re also not all healthy. So it should be interesting to see what the Phillies look like when we’re firing on all cylinders.”

The Phillies won Game 2 because of an impressive spot start from left-hander Bailey Falter, who allowed just one run in six innings. Falter loaded the bases and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch in the first inning. Jeff McNeil then hit a sinking line drive to right field with two outs, but Castellanos made a nice slidng catch to end the frame.

“It could have gone either way after that first inning,” Falter said. “J.T. [Realmuto] and [pitching coach] Caleb [Cotham] calmed me down at the right time, and we got going to work from there. Huge props to Castellanos for that sliding catch. That was huge. Game changer, I believe.”

Falter retired 10 consecutive batters at one point. He found himself in a jam in the fifth with runners on first and second and two outs, but struck out Starling Marte swinging on a 2-2 fastball at the top of the zone.

Realmuto singled to score a run in the first. Alec Bohm doubled to score two runs in the third. Rhys Hoskins singled to score an insurance run in the eighth. The Phillies’ bullpen took care of the rest, which included a six-out save from David Robertson.

The Phillies needed six outs from Robertson because they were without Seranthony Domínguez. He was “concerned” after he felt tightness and swelling in his right triceps after playing catch Saturday morning and said he should know more Sunday.

Dominguez’s health is critical to the Phillies’ success, but on Saturday night, the Phillies savored a rare victory against a division rival.

“We’re at the point now where every single game that we win matters,” Castellanos said. “We’re getting down to crunch time. I don’t know how many we’re back in the division, but it’s no secret that the Mets are a really good baseball team. So we do what we can. Hopefully we come across with a win tomorrow, and then we win the games that we’re supposed to win the rest of the season and we’re in a good shape.”