Pair of homers back Colon as Mets top Phils
PHILADELPHIA -- The Mets opened the second half of their season Friday night tied for the second National League Wild Card. Of course, they want better than that, and New York hopes a 5-3 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park is the beginning of a run at the
PHILADELPHIA -- The Mets opened the second half of their season Friday night tied for the second National League Wild Card. Of course, they want better than that, and New York hopes a 5-3 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park is the beginning of a run at the first-place Nationals in the National League East.
Mets right-hander
"Two years ago we thought Juan was going to be an outstanding offensive player," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He's done a nice job when he's been in there. Right now with Ces's leg, we've certainly got to take a look at seeing if Juan should see some more playing time."
The rebuilding Phillies entered the second half hoping to make a long-shot run at a postseason berth. But despite cutting the lead to 4-3 in the sixth -- highlighted by
"This is one of the better teams in the league and we compete with them every time we play them, so I feel like we can definitely do it," Phillies right-hander
• Mackanin on 2nd half: 'Set our sights high'
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Bart-almost perfect: Well, not quite. But Colon did retire the first 13 batters he faced before
Collins reasoned that the high humidity and 90-degree gametime temperature might have worn Colon down as the game went on. He left after 78 pitches. Colon admitted he was tired, but not because of any weather conditions, which the Dominican is used to.
"Everything worked out for the most part," Colon said through an interpreter. "Just around the fifth and sixth inning, I got a little tired. That's when things got a little complicated."
Mistakes cost Hellickson: Hellickson enters what could be his final couple of weeks with the Phillies. He is a free agent after the season, and the Phillies could trade him to a contender before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Hellickson allowed just one run through five innings before Walker hit a three-run home run to left in the sixth.
"I felt great," Hellickson said. "I just got a little gassed at the end. Leadoff man on the last two innings, I was working way too hard." More >
Take it to the Bank: Walker's sixth-inning blast was the Mets' 14th home run at Citizens Bank Park this season. They haven't hit more than seven at any other road ballpark. With five more games left in Philadelphia this season, the Mets are five away from their number at Citizens Bank Park in 2015 (19), which was nine more than they hit at any other road ballpark last season.
"It tends to be a pretty good ballpark in the middle of summer with the temperature and humidity," Walker said. "As a guy who hits a lot of flyballs, I've been pretty fortunate with the results I've had here this year." More >
Bourjos, Asche stay hot: Two of the reasons the Phillies' offense has picked up the past few weeks has been the hitting of outfielders Bourjos and
"We bounced back, that was nice to see," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
QUOTABLE
"He's not the guy I wanted to see coming out of the break because he's such a good pitcher. He knows what he's doing. He just kind of stifled us for a while there." -- Mackanin, on Colon
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Mets closer
Phillies third baseman
WHAT'S NEXT
Mets:
Phillies: Right-hander
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Evan Webeck is a reporter for MLB.com. He covered the Mets on Friday.
Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Read his Phillies blog The Zo Zone and listen to his podcast.