Phillies complete 4-game sweep
Phillies homer twice in 9th to erase tworun deficit, complete four-game sweep
PHILADELPHIA >> Jean Segura had no problem with three water coolers being dumped on his head after a big hit off his former teammate.
Segura ripped a three-run, walk-off homer against Edwin Diaz moments after Maikel Franco hit a tying, two-run shot against the closer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 6-3 Thursday to complete a four-game sweep.
New York’s Todd Frazier hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Hector Neris with one out in the ninth, but the Phillies rallied in the bottom of the inning — their fourth straight win since utility man Brad Miller brought a bamboo plant into the clubhouse as a goodluck charm.
Diaz (1-5) walked Cesar Hernandez to start, and Franco followed with his third homer of the series. He hit go-ahead, two-run homers in each of the first two games. Pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez walked with one out and advanced to second on Scott Kingery’s hardhit, bad-hop single off Frazier’s glove at third.
Segura then slammed his 10th homer into the seats in
left. He leaped on his way down the first base line, got mobbed by teammates after circling the bases and was showered by sports drinks and water.
“I’ll take 10,” he said. “The guys are having fun so I’ll take that.”
Segura played for Seattle last season when Diaz had 57 saves for the Mariners.
“That guy last year was incredible,” Segura said. “The fastball is his best pitch, so when you come to the plate, you look for his fastball.”
It was Philadelphia’s first four-game sweep against the Mets since Aug. 27-30, 2007. That season, they overcame a seven-game deficit with 17 remaining to edge the Mets on the final day of the regular season for their first of five straight NL East titles.
“This one stings the worst because it just happened,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said after his team dropped a season-worst eight games under .500 at 37-45.
Diaz has allowed at least a run in three of his past five appearances, and his ERA ballooned to 4.94. The All-Star closer is in his first season since being acquired from Seattle for a package of prospects. He’s blown four saves this season, one shy of his career high.
“I was trying the best I could,” Diaz said through an interpreter. “It seems like they were prepared for every pitch. Bad day for me.”
Aaron Nola allowed one hit and struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings but didn’t get a decision. J.D. Hammer (1-0) got two outs for his first career win.
Pitcher Zack Wheeler’s single off Nola leading off the sixth was New York’s only hit until Michael Conforto got a single off Neris with one out in the ninth. Frazier then blasted a 3-2 pitch out to left. Amed Rosario’s RBI groundout extended the lead to 3-1.
Bryce Harper crushed a 438-foot homer in the sixth for Philadelphia’s first hit since Kingery lined a single on Wheeler’s first pitch.
Wheeler gave up one run and two hits, striking out seven in six innings.
Nola, a 2018 All-Star, has allowed one earned run in his last 15 innings and is pitching more like an ace again.
“I’m feeling good, my body is healthy,” Nola said.
The Phillies had lost seven in a row and 16 of 22 to fall out of first place before the Mets came to town.
“The group is confident, they’re playing easy and there’s some swagger in that room right now,” manager Gabe Kapler said.
BAMBOOZLED
Miller placed the bamboo plant in his locker before Monday’s game. He brought a bigger one the next day, and a third for Kapler’s office the following day.
WELCOME TO PHILLY
The Phillies signed firstround pick Bryson Stott, a shortstop from UNLV selected No. 14 overall, for a $3.9 million bonus — $136,800 below slot value.
TRAINER’S ROOM
METS >> 2B Robinson Cano wasn’t in the lineup because of a scheduled day off. He struck out pinch-hitting in the eighth.
PHILLIES >> RHP Tommy Hunter could join the bullpen in Miami this weekend after one more rehab appearance. He has been sidelined all season with an elbow injury.
UP NEXT
METS >> RHP Jacob deGrom (4-6, 3.25 ERA) pitches the opener of a three-game series at home vs. Atlanta on Friday.
PHILLIES >> RHP Vince Velasquez (2-4, 4.40) starts the opener of a three-game series at Miami on Friday. The last-place Marlins swept a three-game set in Philadelphia last weekend.