Darin Ruf smacked a three-run home run in the first inning and the Phillies held on for a 4-3 win over the NL East champion New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.
The Phillies had lost six straight against the Mets at home this season before the win.
The Phillies led 4-1 with two outs in the ninth before Lucas Duda clubbed a two-run homer off Ken Giles to make it a one-run game.
Despite the win, the Phils are just 3-14 against the Mets this season.
The Phils are 60-97 with five games to play.
The Mets are 89-68 and headed to the postseason.
Starting pitching report
David Buchanan allowed nine base runners in in 4 2/3 innings, but tap-danced out of trouble several times and exited with a 3-1 lead in the fifth. The only run he allowed came on a long homer to center by Duda.
Phillies starters haven’t given up more than two earned runs in the last 10 starts.
Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon allowed two singles and a three-run home run to Ruf in the first inning. He went five innings, did not walk a batter and struck out three. He is 14-13.
Bullpen report
Adam Loewen, Dalier Hinojosa, Hector Neris and Luis Garcia combined on 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Phillies. Giles survived a rocky ninth for his 14th save. Loewen was credited with the win.
At the plate
Only four of Ruf’s 11 homers have come against right-handed pitching. He now has six home runs in his last 21 games.
The Phillies padded their lead when Aaron Altherr singled home a run in the seventh inning.
Odubel Herrera had four hits for the Phillies.
Duda homered twice to drive in all the Mets' runs. Six of his 27 homers this season have come against the Phillies.
MLB
Health check
Maikel Franco and Ryan Howard could finish the season in the lineup (see story).
Up next
Right-hander Alec Asher (0-5, 7.52) pitches for the Phillies on Wednesday night. The Mets were expected to name a starter after Tuesday night’s game.