Mets top Phils with rallies, hold top WC spot

NEW YORK — Mets manager Terry Collins may grumble at the notion of baseball’s expanded rosters in September. But rules are rules, and Collins is doing his best to exploit them, hoping this everyone-plays brand of September baseball will help his club reach October.

Collins used six pitchers and 20 players Friday in a 10-5 win over the Phillies, extending many of them beyond their usual roles to give the Mets a 1 1/2-game National League Wild Card lead over the Cardinals. With eight games to play, New York also moved a game up on the Giants for the best record among NL Wild Card contenders.

“It was an incredible team victory today,” said outfielder Michael Conforto. “We’ve been through a lot just over the course of this season. So many things have happened. There’s a lot of fight in this team, and we’re going to keep playing until we get to where we want to be — and that’s in the playoffs.”

Conforto hit his first home run since August for the Mets, who toppled Philadelphia’s bullpen with a six-run rally in the fifth inning and a three-run outburst in the seventh. Though the Phillies fought back on a Darin Ruf two-run homer in the sixth inning and loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, they never found consistent answers for New York’s relievers.

Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson could not escape the fourth inning, giving up six runs on seven hits and three walks. Collins did not have nearly as much patience with rookie Gabriel Ynoa, removing him after only two innings. Making his second career start in place of Jacob deGrom, who recently underwent season-ending elbow surgery, Ynoa allowed two runs on five hits.

With regular setup man Addison Reed and closer Jeurys Familia both unavailable, Hansel Robles recorded the final eight outs for the Mets to earn his first career save.

“They threw a bullpen game against us, so that’s tough to take,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “That was a shame. Helly [Hellickson] just wasn’t at his best.”

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDBatting around: Conforto’s three-run, opposite-field home run off Frank Herrmann capped a six-run fifth for the Mets, who entered the inning trailing, 3-1. After a hit and two walks loaded the bases, Curtis Granderson and Kelly Johnson plated three runs on a pair of RBI …

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