Field Level Media
Apr 22, 2019
Jeff McNeil had two hits, including a solo home run, to lift the host New York Mets past the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 on Monday.
The Phillies, who managed only three hits, saw right fielder Bryce Harper get ejected in the fourth inning while arguing from the dugout.
Mets starter Steven Matz (2-1) was effective, allowing three hits and one run in six innings. He struck out six and walked two. It was a completely different outcome from his last start against the Phillies in which he faced eight batters and failed to record an out on April 16.
Juan Lagares had two hits for New York.
The Mets played without shortstop Amed Rosario, sidelined due to flu-like symptoms. Second baseman Robinson Cano, who was hit in the right hand by a pitch on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals, was announced as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning before being called back.
Rhys Hoskins ripped a solo homer for the Phillies, who dropped three of four in Colorado before heading to New York. Cesar Hernandez had Philadelphia's only other two hits.
Phillies starter Jake Arrieta (3-2) threw six-plus innings and gave up seven hits and four runs (three earned). He fanned seven and walked one.
Philadelphia's final 16 hitters were retired.
Pete Alonso's double to right field scored Brandon Nimmo for a 1-0 Mets lead in the third inning. One out later, Wilson Ramos singled to center, scoring Alonso.
The Phillies got on the scoreboard with one out in the fourth when Hoskins launched a solo home run to left-center to get within 2-1.
In a bizarre circumstance, Harper was tossed with two outs in the fourth. After a questionable called strike to Hernandez, plate umpire Mark Carlson motioned to the dugout and ejected Harper for arguing balls and strikes.
Harper had reached base in all of his previous 21 games as a Phillie before going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and being tossed.
In the fifth, McNeil put the Mets ahead 3-1 with a booming solo homer to right.
Juan Nicasio hit Alonso with the bases loaded to give the Mets a 4-1 advantage in the seventh. Michael Conforto then lifted a sacrifice fly to score another run.
--Field Level Media