NEW YORK — Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run rally in the fifth inning, Hansel Robles gave a big boost from the bullpen and the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 10-5 Friday night to stay atop the NL wild-card race.
The Mets began the day tied with San Francisco for the wild-card lead. St. Louis lost and trails New York by 1 1/2 games.
A day after using 10 pitchers in a stirring 9-8, 11-inning win over the Phillies, the Mets sent out six more. With his team competing for a playoff spot, manager Terry Collins yanked starter Gabriel Ynoa after just two shaky innings.
Robles preserved a 7-5 lead in the seventh, getting pinch hitter Tommy Joseph to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. Robles finished with hitless relief for his first career save.
Josh Smoker (3-0) pitched one inning.
Collins kept turning to his bench, using three straight pinch hitters in a three-run seventh. He said before the game he wouldn't bring in setup man Addison Reed and closer Jeurys Familia because of their recent workload, and Collins wasn't tempted with the big lead and Robles in control.
Maikel Franco homered for the second straight day and pinch hitter Darin Ruf also connected for the Phillies.
Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson (12-10) was coming off his first shutout since 2011. He took a 3-1 lead into the fifth, but the Mets loaded with one out. Curtis Granderson singled home a run and Kelly Johnson hit an RBI single, with another run scoring when rookie right fielder Roman Quinn overran the ball for a 4-3 lead.
Frank Herrmann relieved and Conforto homered over the left-field wall. Phillies relievers entered the game with a 1-7 record, seven blown saves and a 6.13 ERA in September — they let leads get away in the ninth inning and again in the 11th Thursday night.
Cesar Hernandez and Quinn hit RBI singles in the second off Ynoa. Hernandez has safely reached in 28 straight games, matching the best streak by a Phillies player since Chase Utley in 2011.
Travis d'Arnaud doubled in the Mets second for his first RBI in nearly a month.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: RHP Jeanmar Gomez is feeling fine, but manager Pete Mackanin says he won't close for a couple of days. Gomez gave up a tying home run to Jose Reyes in the ninth inning Thursday night, and is 0-2 with a 16.20 ERA in 10 games this month.
Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard has been scratched from his start Saturday night because of strep throat. Collins said Syndergaard might be able to start Monday or Tuesday at Miami.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Alec Asher (1-0, 2.16) makes his fourth start for the Phillies this year. He started against the Mets last Sept. 30 and gave up five runs while getting chased in the first inning.
Mets: LHP Sean Gilmartin will pitch Saturday night in place of the ailing Syndergaard. Gilmartin's only major league start came last year. He is 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 games this season, and got two outs Thursday night.
