Road streak ends as Mets fall to Phillies 4-3

For just the third time this season, the Philadelphia Phillies got the better of the New York Mets thanks to a 4-3 win on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.The last-place Phillies (60-97) improved to just 3-14 against the 2015 National League East champion Mets (89-68), while snapping New York’s franchise-record road-winning streak at 11.

This game started off poorly for the Mets, as Bartolo Colon served up a three run bomb to Darin Ruf in the bottom of the first inning. Giles (SV, 14) recovered however, striking out Travis d’Arnaud to end it.

Prior to this season, Duda struggled badly against lefties, which often left him as part of a platoon.

The Mets are looking ahead to their first postseason since 2006 and will be setting up their rotation during the final week.

Collins said “the reins will be off” Matt Harvey, who will face no workload restrictions when he’s given the ball in the postseason.

“He’s swinging the bat really well, just when we need him to get hot”, manager Terry Collins said.

“Overall, it was a nice day and we can smile”, Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said. “He’s been swinging the bat better against right-handers”.

Duda connected in the fourth, sending a 440-shot off the brick wall behind the fence in center field for his team-leading 26th homer. Buchanan gave up one run and six hits in 4 2-3 innings.

New York loaded the bases with one out against Dalier Hinojosa in the sixth, but Curtis Granderson flied out to shallow left and David Wright flied out to right. The Mets stranded seven runners in the first five innings and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position over that stretch.In the top of the third inning, back-to-back one-out walks went for naught when three-hole hitter second baseman Daniel Murphy struck out and cleanup man center fielder Yoenis Cespedes grounded out. Mets young left-hander Steven Matz is dealing with a stiff neck, while Craig shares his own concerns about perhaps having a case of gout… Philadelphia turns to rookie Alec Asher for his first career start versus the Mets on Wednesday.

An Aaron Altherr RBI single in the seventh would get them to 4-1, and that was important. He stayed in after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Franco has been on the DL with a broken left wrist since August 18.