PHILADELPHIA (AP) – As the defeats went up and the Phillies were far from first place, it was clear that many players were pressing.

Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler noticed something different for Jorge Alfaro on Tuesday, long before the rookie receiver made the biggest move of the night.

Alfaro had a three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Phillies beat the New York Mets 5-2 to improve their playoff hopes.

"It was pretty obvious from the start that he was a bit more supple in the batter's box and was swinging with a little less, I guess, ferocity," Kapler said of Alfaro, who said completed 2-in-3. through the area. "

Philadelphia overcame Aaron Nola's uneven outing and a home run led by starter Steven Matz who made him the third Mets pitcher to participate in consecutive appearances.

The Phillies' third win in 10 games has taken them to 5½ of the last games of leading NL, Atlanta, who lost 8-1 to St. Louis. And the Phillies insist they still have a shot with 12 games to play.

"We have a chance for sure," said Nola. "We have seven games (coming) against the Braves."

Wilson Ramos and Justin Bour hit RBI in the fifth inning, before Alfaro made a 1-1 draw for Drew Smith to center-left for his 10th circuit.

And with that, the eventful performance of Matz was wasted by the Mets.

The left-hander had no circuit during his first 70 league games before ending up last Thursday against Miami. He entered Tuesday by hitting .093 (4 for 43) this season and .140 in his career, but took a left turn against Nola in the third, which allowed New York to take the advantage 1 -0.

What's going on in Matz?

"I do not really know," he said with a smile. "I have no explanation for you."

The other Mets pitchers to make consecutive matches were Tom Seaver (1972) and Ron Darling (1989).

Matz worked around five steps and gave two hits in five scoreless innings. He also caught a line behind his legs to start a double game, before the paddock faded and the Mets bats were silent.

"He's a great athlete, a strong kid and he's kind of exposed tonight," manager Mickey Callaway said. "He's just a good baseball player."

Pat Neshek (3-1) relieved Nola and took the last place in the sixth. Seranthony Dominguez, Tommy Hunter and Hector Neris each had a scoreless run while the Phillies improved to 7-11 against the Mets this season.

Neris earned his 11th win.

Nola allowed two runs and six hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 while her ERA climbed to 2.44. He conceded eight home runs in September after giving seven in the first five months of the season.

The match against Nola, one of Mets as Jacob deGrom's rivals for the NL Cy Young Award, was not lost on Matz.

"I told him, it was for you, my friend," Matz said.

TRAINER ROOM

Mets: Jay Bruce started in the right field, the fourth straight game that he did not play at first base. But Callaway said that Bruce's back was fine and that he would be back soon.

Phillies: Alfaro stayed after Jacob Rhame pierced his arm with a fastball in the eighth inning, his first appearance after his home tour. Alfaro was receiving treatment after the match and was not available to speak with the reporters. . Ex-Mets Inf Asdrubal Cabrera, who left Monday's game with a left calf injury, and 3B Maikel Franco (right shoulder) were absent. Kapler put Scott Kingery at the stop and J.P. Crawford in third place.

DECISION OF WHEELER

The Mets were still thinking about the opportunity to close RHP Zack Wheeler, who has thrown nearly 100 more heats than last season. "The main things we want is for him to feel good in the season and be healthy," Callaway said.

CLUBHOUSE CROWN

LHP Aaron Loup was disabled on the injured list, giving Philadelphia the September limit of 40 players. Kapler used 18 in the game

hijinks

Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard passed Phillie Phanatic's four-wheel drive ahead of the game and skirted the outside field as the mascot pursued him on foot. . Last weekend, after treating real rats in the Boston canoe, a long-tail plastic rat was seen in the clubhouse before the game.

FOLLOWING

Syndergarrd (12-3, 3.26 ERA), who has won three consecutive starts and four consecutive decisions, is preparing for the Mets in the final of the Wednesday night series against RHP Zach Eflin (10-7, 4.26).

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