Mets score double-digit runs for the third time in a row, a franchise newcomer

NEW YORK – The New York Mets scored double-digit runs in three consecutive games for the first time in their 63-year history as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 on Thursday night.

After their 10-1 and 10-0 victories over Washington, the Mets hit home runs by Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez against Philadelphia starter Taijuan Walker.

Luisangel Acuña, a brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr., drove in the 10th run with an RBI triple in the seventh off José Alvarado.

New York won its fourth straight game and 16th in the last 20 games to maintain its two-game lead over Atlanta and the final wild-card spot in the NL.

The Mets did most of their damage through Walker (3-7), who made his first start since Aug. 28 after being limited to three bullpen appearances. He allowed four home runs, a career low, along with eight runs, eight hits, three walks and a hit batter in 3 1/3 innings. His ERA rose to 6.91 in a game in which he also recorded his 1,000th strikeout.

Philadelphia’s pitchers walked eight times, the most of the season.

Vientos put the Mets ahead with his 25th home run, a 113 mph line drive down the left field line. Four pitches later, Alonso hit an opposite-field drive to right-center field for his 34th home run, giving the Mets back-to-back home runs for the sixth time this season.

Six pitches into the bottom of the third inning, Nimmo gave the Mets the lead with his 21st home run, a two-run drive to right-center field. After Brandon Marsh’s RBI single cut the Phillies’ deficit to 4-3 in the fourth inning, Alvarez hit his third home run in six starts, a three-run drive in a five-run fourth that extended the Mets’ lead to 7-3.

This report uses information from the Associated Press.