Maikel Franco made things interesting with a two-out, sixth-inning grand slam, but the Phillies fell just short in their series finale against the Mets.
The Mets won, 5-4, to sweep the series. One of the wins was by 10 runs; the other two were one-run games.
Franco led off the ninth inning with a single but the Phillies couldn't get the tying run past first base.
The Mets scored all of their runs Wednesday night off Vince Velasquez, who again labored and had a quick exit.
The Phillies are 3-6 and have an off day Thursday before heading to D.C. The Mets are 6-3.
Starting pitching report
Velasquez allowed one run in the first and another in the third, but the real turning point for him was the fifth inning. He hit Travis d'Arnaud with a pitch to begin the frame and then walked pitcher Zack Wheeler to put two men on base with no outs for the potent top of the Mets' order.
MLB
Wheeler was trying to bunt and popped one up, but home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt inadvertently blocked catcher Cameron Rupp's path to the ball. Velasquez walked Wheeler, walked Michael Conforto to load the bases and gave up three runs in the inning to give the Mets a comfortable lead that held up.
Velasquez has pitched only nine innings in two starts and thrown 194 pitches. He's 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA.
Wheeler, making just his second start since 2014, cruised through five innings before getting pulled with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth. The grand slam Hansel Robles allowed to Franco muddied Wheeler's line -- he ended up allowing three runs over 5 2/3 innings while striking out four.
Still, his outing had to make the Mets feel good. Wheeler missed all of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and his comeback attempt in 2016 lasted all of one rehab start before he was shut down.
Bullpen report
The Phillies got scoreless innings from Luis Garcia (recalled earlier in the day from Triple A to take Adam Morgan's place), Pat Neshek, Hector Neris and Joaquin Benoit.
Neshek, Neris and Benoit have combined so far this season to pitch 12 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts.
At the plate
Franco's grand slam was the second of his career. It went to the deepest part of the park in left-center field.
Franco is hot after a slow start. Over his last five games, he's 6 for 17 with two homers, a double, eight RBIs and three walks.
Cesar Hernandez had another multi-hit game, his fourth, and is hitting .308/.357/.513.
Michael Conforto led off for the Mets and set the tone, singling and scoring in the first, hitting a solo homer in the third and walking and scoring in the fifth. He's 4 for 7 off Velasquez with two home runs.
Yoenis Cespedes didn't hit three homers, but the Phillies still struggled with him. Cespedes doubled in a run in the first and hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Up next
The Phillies are off Thursday before playing three games this weekend at Nationals Park. From there, they have an off day Monday before playing three with the Mets at Citi Field.
The schedule-makers did no favors for the Phils, who will have played 12 of their first 15 games against the Nats and Mets.
Pitching matchups this weekend:
Friday at 4:05: Aaron Nola (1-0, 4.50) vs. Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 3.21)
Saturday at 1:05: Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 0.90) vs. Tanner Roark (2-0, 4.09)
Sunday at 1:35: Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 1.98) vs. Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 0.69)
At least they miss Max Scherzer.