Andy Green had to wait almost five years for his next managerial win. On Saturday night, his new team made sure it was worth the wait.
The New York Mets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 6-2 comeback win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. It was Green’s first victory as a manager since 2019, after he took over Friday night when Carlos Mendoza was let go.
The game started 70 minutes late because of rain, and for a while it looked like more of the same for the Mets. Philadelphia went up 2-0 in the third inning when Bryce Harper crushed a two-run homer off Christian Scott. That was Harper’s 43rd career home run against New York — most by any active player against the Mets.
Scott was making his first start since June 11 after missing 15 days with a right hip impingement. He went 4 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. Six strikeouts, two walks. Not bad for a guy coming off an injury, but the bullpen had to eat the rest.
Philadelphia used Tim Mayza as an opener, then turned it over to Alan Rangel. Rangel was dealing for a while — retired 11 of 12 batters after entering in the second inning. The Mets couldn’t touch him through five.
Then the sixth inning happened.
The turning point
Juan Soto and Bo Bichette both reached with one out. Then Francisco Lindor stepped up and ripped a triple down the right-field line. Both runners scored. Tie game, 2-2. It was Lindor’s first RBIs since April 22 — he’d missed nearly two months with a left calf strain and only returned three games ago.
Jared Young walked after that, and the Phillies pulled Rangel for Jonathan Bowlan. Mark Vientos walked to load the bases. That brought up AJ Ewing, who took the first pitch he saw and lined it into center for a two-run single. Just like that, it was 4-2 Mets.
New York added more in the seventh. Carson Benge singled, then Soto tripled to right-center to bring him home. Bichette followed with a sacrifice fly, making it 6-2.
Soto, Lindor and Bichette carry the load
The three guys batting second through fourth went a combined 4-for-9 with two walks. Saturday was only the 11th game this season Soto and Lindor started together — both dealt with calf injuries at different points. Soto missed time earlier with a right calf strain.
The Mets bullpen threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings. AJ Minter got the win, his first of the season. Huascar Brazobán and Luke Weaver held things down before Devin Williams closed it out in the ninth for his 12th save.
New York improved to 35-48. They entered Saturday 10 games out of the final National League wild card spot. The Phillies dropped to 46-37.
The series wraps up Sunday. Philadelphia sends lefty Jesus Luzardo (6-4, 4.39 ERA) against New York’s opener Cionel Perez (3-3, 4.99 ERA).
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