Bullpens blow it for Yankees and Mets

NEW YORK — Jean Segura has helped all over the Philadelphia Phillies infield this season.

Might have the bullpen’s biggest save now, too.

“Jean has been special for us this year,” manager Joe Girardi said.

Segura hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and drove in a career-best five runs, bailing out the Phillies’ abominable bullpen to salvage a 9-8 win over the New York Mets on Monday for a four-game split.

The Mets erased a 6-0 deficit against former teammate Zack Wheeler and baseball’s worst relief corps, taking a 7-6 lead on Jeff McNeil’s three-run homer in the seventh inning.

Philadelphia rookie Alec Bohm countered with a tying single in the eighth against Jeurys Familia, plating Segura before Andrew Knapp turned too wide around third and got picked off to end the inning.

Segura hit his fifth homer of the season with two outs in the 10th, lining a pitch from Miguel Castro (1-1) over the wall in leftcenter. Segura, who entered with 12 RBIs this season, also had a three-run double in the first inning and finished with four hits.

Hector Neris allowed an RBI single to Brandon Nimmo in the bottom of the inning but still completed his third save.

Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto homered for Philadelphia, which improved to 20-17 and moved 31⁄2 games ahead of New

York and remained 11⁄2 ahead of Miami for second place in the NL East. Philadelphia opens a brutal stretch with five doubleheaders in 15 days Tuesday.

Segura has bounced between second and third base this season after being an everyday shortstop throughout his career. Girardi had ample praise for Segura’s upbeat attitude throughout the transition.

“It’s a big opportunity for us to make it to the playoffs,” said Segura, in his ninth big league season. “Dang, I’m waiting for that moment. I would love to be in the playoffs and have a playoff game because I never did in my career.”

Wheeler pitched six innings in his first start as a visitor at Citi Field and handed off a 6-3 lead that was immediately blown by a bullpen that entered with a 7.04 ERA.

Rookie left-hander JoJo Romero allowed consecutive singles to Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis, and Conforto scored to make it 6-4 when shortstop Didi Gregorius threw away a certain double play on the relay.

Recently acquired righthander David Phelps replaced Romero, walked Pete Alonso, then allowed McNeil’s homer into the second deck in right.

McNeil hit his first homer of the season a day earlier. An All-Star last year, McNeil is batting .381 (16 for 42) in his past 11 games following a cold start.

“We were able to battle and just give ourselves the opportunity to win the game, which is nice,” McNeil said. “Next time we’re going to close the deal and hopefully get a win.”

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHPs Zach Eflin (2-1, 4.45) and Vince Velasquez (0-0, 6.60) will start each end of a doubleheader against Boston. The Red Sox plan to pitch LHP Martin Perez (2-4, 4.07) in one of the games.

Mets: RHP Michael Wacha (1-2, 7.20) opposes Baltimore LHP John Means (0-3, 8.10) in the opener of a two-game series at Citi Field.

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images The Mets’ Jeff McNeil drops his bat and watches the flight of his seventh-inning three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Monday.