Mets fall into Wild Card tie after loss to Phils

NEW YORK — Time and again this season, the Mets have shrugged off injuries to their starting pitchers, playing their most meaningful string of September games without the majority of their Opening Day rotation. But the loss of Noah Syndergaard proved too much even for them to overcome.

While Syndergaard spent his Saturday recuperating from a case of strep throat, spot starter Sean Gilmartin allowed five runs to a Phillies club that has shown plenty of life this weekend. Maikel Franco stayed hot with a three-run homer, while Darin Ruf added his second long ball in as many days in a 10-8 win over the Mets at Citi Field.

The Nationals clinched the National League East title with a victory over the Pirates, but the Mets are still very much alive in the Wild Card race, where they are tied with the Giants atop the standings. The Mets still technically hold the top spot by virtue of a 4-3 edge in the season series, while the Cardinals sit just a half-game back of both clubs.

Trailing by double-digits at one point, the Mets battled back to move within three runs in the eighth, relying heavily on seldom-used bench players. But Hector Neris and Michael Mariot held on to preserve Philadelphia’s fifth win in its last eight games.

“I absolutely tip my hat to the job those young kids did tonight,” Mets manager Terry Collins said of the near-comeback. “They were running the bases like their hair was on fire. Tremendous comeback. I’m real proud of them.”

Phillies starter Alec Asher allowed four unearned runs in five innings to improve to 2-0 since his September callup.

“It’s bittersweet,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said about the agonizing way his club won the game. “I’m talking myself into being happy, let’s put it that way. These guys are relentless. This Mets team is relentless. They just keep coming at you.”

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDFranco’s big weekend: Franco hit a three-run homer in the first inning to hand the Phillies a 3-0 lead. They piled on from there with Ruf hitting a three-run shot in the fourth to make it 10-0. It was Franco’s third homer in as many nights against the Mets, giving him a team-high 25. It was Ruf’s second homer in as many nights, giving him two on the year. More >

“I was talking with Freddy [Galvis] and Whitey [Andres Blanco] the first day when I came in,” Franco said. “I just told them, it’s something you can’t control sometimes. Now I’m seeing the ball really good and I’m just putting good contact on the ball, and the ball flies. That’s what it is. Just try to go out there, see a good pitch to hit and …

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