Nick Williams came off the bench and clubbed a three-run, pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to help Aaron Nola and the Phillies beat the New York Mets, 4-2, at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday afternoon.
The win gave the Phillies a 5-1 homestand as they get set to hit the road for six games after Monday’s off day.
Nola, who entered the game with the fourth-best ERA in the National League, pitched six innings of one-run ball to improve to 6-1 and lower his ERA to 1.99.
The only run he allowed came in the top of the sixth when Yoenis Cespedes hit a mistake, 0-2 curveball for a solo homer. That was the game’s only run until Williams’ two-out homer in the bottom of the inning against Mets right-hander Paul Sewald.
The Phillies had trouble manufacturing a run in the early and middle innings. They loaded the bases on three walks against Mets starter Jacob deGrom in the first inning and got nothing. They grounded into two inning-ending double plays in the first four innings and were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position before Williams’ big hit.
Carlos Santana had a big day for the Phils. He led off the sixth inning with a double and Scott Kingery drew a one-out walk before Williams’ homer gave the Phils a 3-1 lead.
MLB
Things got tight for the Phillies in the seventh inning when Tommy Hunter allowed a two-out single and Asdrubal Cabrera followed with an RBI double off the right-field wall to make it a one-run game. Cabrera's drive came just a few feet from going over the wall for a game-tying homer.
Santana provided the Phils a little breathing room with a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. He had four home runs and 14 RBIs on the homestand.
Rookie Seranthony Dominguez pitched a scoreless eighth, giving him four scoreless appearances since arriving from Triple A. Edubray Ramos protected the two-run lead in the ninth and got the save. Hector Neris, who blew the save on Friday night, warmed up after Ramos entered the game, but was not used.
Odubel Herrera, the majors’ leading hitter, improved his consecutive games on-base streak to 41 with a first-inning walk. He is hitting .360.
DeGrom was removed after just one inning and an arduous 45 pitches. He was not hurt, but the Mets are watching him closely as he comes back from a hyperextended elbow.
Notes
• The Phillies’ defense was sharp. First baseman Santana started an important 3-6-1 double play to end the top of the fifth and catcher Jorge Alfaro gunned down Amed Rosario trying to steal. Alfaro’s throw to second registered at 91 mph. Alfaro also had a pair of hits.
• The Phillies are off on Monday. They open a two-game interleague series at Baltimore on Tuesday night.
• The Phillies sent reliever Jake Thompson to Triple A after the game. They will add someone before Tuesday's game.