The Mets slug their way over the Phillies behind Zac Thornton

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Zac Thornton #49 of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images In a fairly lethargic game, the Mets defeated the Phillie

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In a fairly lethargic game, the Mets defeated the Phillies 6-3.

Zac Thornton started for the Mets, and hit Kyle Schwarber with a pitch, putting the first runner of the game on first base. But Thornton buckled down, striking out Treat Turner and Bryce Harper and then inducing a ground out from Luis Arraez.

The Mets teed off on opener Tim Mayza. Francisco Lindor led off the game with a double, and was pushed to third by a Bo Bichette single. Carson Benge then singled, scoring Lindor, and putting the Mets up

1-0.

Mark Vientos walked, and that would do it for Mayza. José Urquidy came in next and, aside from allowing a two-run single to A.J. Ewing in his first at-bat, settled in nicely. Urquidy went four and two-thirds innings, giving up no runs on five hits, while striking out six.

The Phillies got a run back in the bottom of the second when Bryston Stott doubled off of Ewing’s glove in center field, scoring Edmundo Sosa. That would do it for the scoring until the top of the sixth, when Sosa hit a solo home run to left-center field.

Thornton continues to impress, going six innings and allowing those two runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out five.

In the bottom of the sixth, with two on, Juan Soto hit a towering home run to right-center field, pushing the lead to 6-2. That was Soto’s 26th home run of the year which, considering how long he was on the shelf for, is impressive.

Derek Hill hit a solo dinger off of Nate Lavender, who was otherwise solid in his one and two-thirds innings of work. Dedniel Nuñez pitched the last inning and a third, and was perfect against those four batters.

Tomorrow, otherwise known as Carlos Beltrán day, will see Christian Scott face off against Andrew Painter at 4:10pm.