Mets win, move closer to playoff spot

PHILADELPHIA >> Jay Bruce and Robert Gsellman made scoreboard-watching irrelevant for the New York Mets.

Bruce homered for the third straight game and drove in three runs, Gsellman threw six sharp innings and the Mets moved closer to securing a wild-card berth with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

The defending NL champions reduced their magic number to one with two games remaining. The Mets began the night atop the wild-card race, with San Francisco one game back and St. Louis two behind.

Manager Terry Collins and players in the clubhouse didn’t pay any attention to televisions airing the PiratesCardinals game. Collins said the team had no plans to celebrate regardless of the outcome in St. Louis.

“We had to take care of our own business and we’ve done that and we have to keep doing that,” Collins said.

Gsellman (4-2) scattered seven hits and struck out seven in another strong performance. The rookie righthander has allowed only three earned runs in his last four starts.

“I think I’ve done a good job blocking it out,” Gsellman said of pitching in a playoff race. “I’m focusing on having fun and doing what I do.”

More Mets fans were inside a half-empty ballpark on a wet, chilly night when Ryan Howard began his final series in front of the home crowd. The blue-and-orange faithful screamed “Let’s Go Mets” and their “Bruuuuuce” chants drowned out boos from Phillies fans.

Stuck in a slump for nearly two months since being acquired from Cincinnati, Bruce extended his hitting streak to six games. He finished 3 for 4.

Philadelphia starter Alec Asher (2-1) retired the first 11 batters before he ran into trouble with two outs in the fourth when Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson hit consecutive singles.

Bruce and T.J. Rivera followed with back-to-back RBI singles for a 2-1 lead.

“I’ve pitched like I know I should,” Asher said. “I just want to carry on next year.”

Bruce connected in the seventh, sending his 33rd homer the opposite-way to left field. The Mets added two runs, including another RBI single by Bruce.

Earlier in the inning, Howard let Cespedes’ infield pop fall untouched near the firstbase bag, allowing a runner to score from third.

Howard hit a double to deep center his first time up and was 1 for 4. Cameron Rupp’s sacrifice fly followed Howard’s double and put the Phillies ahead 1-0.

Robert Gsellman had ‘em at arms’ length. TWO THUMBS DOWN Aaron Altherr looks lost. Jimmy Paredes never did get it going.