Flushing, NY – The Phillies brought 13 hitters to the plate and scored eight runs during a 33-minute first inning en route to thumping the New York Mets, 16-1, and finishing off a three-game sweep at Citi Field.
Jimmy Rollins, Juan Pierre and Chase Utley combined for 11 hits, eight RBI and six runs scored to help keep the Phillies within four games of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card spot.
"We didn't have things go the way we wanted them to go in Houston," Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard said. "Four down, the only thing we can do is continue to win and let everything else sort itself out."
Jeremy Hefner (2-7) did not record an out, becoming the Mets' first starter who failed to do so since John Maine in 2010. He allowed the Phillies' first seven batters to reach base on six hits and a walk, with each runner scoring.
Making the fifth start of his career, Tyler Cloyd (2-1) pitched excellent behind plenty of run support. The right-hander spun eight innings, scattering just three hits and one run while striking out six to earn the victory.
The Mets, who fell to 4-24 at home since the All-Star break, didn't get their second hit of the game until the fifth inning, when Mike Baxter hit a homer.
"Obviously we aren't hitting," Mets first baseman Ike Davis said. "Nothing's really falling."
Rollins and Pierre both reached on singles in the first before Utley plated Rollins with a soft fly ball to center. Howard then stroked a base hit to right to score Pierre. John Mayberry reached on a single to load the bases before Domonic Brown scorched a base hit up the middle to bring home Utley.
Hefner's night was finished after he walked Kevin Frandsen with the bases loaded to force in Howard. Colin McHugh came in from the bullpen and plunked Erik Kratz to score another run for the Phillies before getting Cloyd to hit into a double play.
However, McHugh wasn't out of the woods just yet. Rollins came to bat for the second time in the inning and drove in two with a ground ball up the middle. Pierre followed with a soft liner to left before Utley capped the eight-run inning with an RBI base hit.
After Utley drove in another run in the eighth, the Phillies put seven more on the board in the ninth.
Jeurys Familia loaded the bases before walking Rollins to plate Frandsen. Pierre then reached on infield hit to score Kratz from third, ending Familia's night. Josh Edgin came into the game and plunked Utley to score Nate Schierholtz before surrendering a grand slam to Howard to make it 16-1.
Game Notes
The Mets have scored three runs or less in 16 consecutive home games ... Of the Phillies' 21 hits, only two were for extra-bases ... Rollins has hit safely in 16 of 18 games in September ... The Mets used 10 different pitchers on Thursday ... The Phillies were 11-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
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