Starling Marte recorded three hits and the New York Mets continued their paramountcy of Philadelphia, pulverizing Zack Wheeler and the Phillies 8-2 Saturday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
The NL East-leading Mets have won 13 of 17 from their division rivals this year while outscoring them 89-50. New York improved to 6-2 at Citizens Bank Park in that span.
Catcher Michael Perez broke an 0-for-19 slump with a two-run single in the fifth inning to start the scoring. Francisco Lindor added an RBI triple in the sixth against ex-met Wheeler (11-7,3.07ERA) ), who had a rough line of 5.1 innings, four runs, five hits, and six strikeouts.
Mets pitchers Trevor Williams, Seth Lugo , Joely Rodriguez, Adam Ottavino and Sam Clay held the Phillies' struggling lineup to six hits while stranding 12 runners. Williams was solid in this one stepping up for the injured Tajuan Walker going four-plus innings while allowing four hits and no earned runs.
The Phillies, who started the day holding the second NL wild-card spot, are 61-41 against every other team on their schedule besides New York. In nine games against New York, Philadelphia's two top starters -- Wheeler and Aaron Nola -- are a combined 0-7 with a 4.38 ERA. The Mets have won all nine games the duo has started, including four over the last two weekend series.
Wheeler struggled with his control, walking four while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. The Mets worked deep counts through the early innings and ran Wheeler's pitch count up, finally cashing in during the fifth inning.
I used ESPN to help with the structure of this article.
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