Flores, Cabrera, Colon lead Mets to 9-4 win over Phillies

Syndergaard (12-7), who was coming off an eight-inning, two-hit, no-run performance against the Cardinals, again allowed only two hits, this time in seven innings.

Ellis got a big hit in his Philadelphia debut, breaking a seventh-inning tie with a two-run double Sunday that sent the Phillies to a 5-1 victory over the New York Mets.

Wilmer Flores entered as a pinch runner in place of Cabrera and came around to score the game’s opening run on a Curtis Granderson sacrifice fly.

The Mets have been a team that has relied on the home run all season, and Saturday proved to be no different.

“It looks like a completely different team”, Mets manager Terry Collins said.

“I think the energy we have right now is taking us back to last season”.

The Mets gained a game on the St. Louis Cardinals and moved within 2 1/2 games of the second wild-card spot in the National League.

Cespedes is reminded of previous year, when his arrival after a July 31 trade helped the Mets turn a moribund offence into a pennant victor.

“The confidence at the plate”, Cabrera said.

“The desire, the motivation”, he explained.

Freddy Galvis homered for the Phillies, who have scored one run or fewer in three of the last five games. In the last five years alone, Komen Greater NYC has helped 657,000 women, men and families in New York City, on Long Island, and in Westchester and Rockland Counties.

At first it seemed Cabrera hurt his wrist, and he initially remained in the game. He reached 11 career home runs faster than anyone in major league history – 23 games, including two hitless games a year ago. The ballpark opened in 2009.

RHP Rafael Montero (0-0, 11.57 ERA) has the hard task of facing All-Star RHP Jose Fernandez (13-7, 2.91) in his first big league start of the season as the Mets begin an important four-game series with Miami at Citi Field.

“I just know that I’m learning”. “And my slider’s been a lot more consistent”. But on Saturday, things did, with a 12-1 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Tonight was embarrassing”, manager Pete Mackanin said. Yoenis Cespedes finished Hellickson off with a three-run blast in the fourth.

Kenley Jansen pitched a ideal ninth for his 38th save a day after allowing a run on a wild pitch in the ninth in a 6-4, 10-inning loss. We’ve just got to regroup and put these two games behind us.

“Typical Syndergaard”, Mackanin said. “Didn’t really have much”. He went 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA as a starter this season with the Mets Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. “That was just all reflex”.

“It’s tough. I’m trying to think of the right words”.

Jeremy Hellickson was the losing pitcher for the Phillies.

BRIEFS: The Mets placed Justin Ruggiano on the disabled list with a left shoulder injury, and recalled infielder T.J. Rivera.