Phillies end Mets’ 11-game road winning streak

Adam Loewen (W, 1-0) picked up the win, tossing the last out of the fifth inning in relief of Buchanan. The Mets saw their winning streak ended at three as they couldn’t quite come back from an early 3-0 deficit in the game’s final two innings, despite a big offensive night from first baseman Lucas Duda. “Ruf’s three-run homer gave us a few confidence going into that game”. Buchanan has pitched much better in four starts since his return, but still has an ugly 7.54 ERA with a 1.93 WHIP and a 37/28 K/BB ratio over 68 innings. The homer, Ruf’s eleventh of the season, also brought home Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr to make it 3-0 Phils.

Thursday’s game will be aired on Comcast SportsNet, with Phillies Pre-Game Live beforehand at 11:30 a.m.

New York, which will play the victor of the National League West in the NL Division Series starting October 9, is looking to secure home-field advantage in the series. Matz was hit hard in a 6-4 win at Cincinnati with three runs given up on ten hits in 5.2 frames. Then in the fifth, Cespedes and Duda left two aboard with consecutive strikeouts.Buchanan was lifted after striking out Cespedes, as he finished 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in 78 pitches. “It felt pretty normal because I did it for five years”. It’s really important to get a hit like that. However, on Tuesday night, New York left 12 men on base and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Philadelphia turns to rookie Alec Asher for his first career start versus the Mets on Wednesday.

Altherr extended the Phillies lead in the seventh with a RBI single off Jonathon Niese, who was in the second inning of his first relief appearance of the season. RHP Logan Verrett will start Wednesday….

Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco is planning to play in the weekend series against Miami. He beat them four times this season. Barring any offseason machinations by the front office, Howard – who looked healthy in the clubhouse after the game and likely will return to action before the Mets and their fans leave town – will be in the final season of his Phillies contract in 2016, with a supplemental buyout option attached.