The sky above Citizens Bank Park was dark with wildfire smoke, but Francisco Alvarez supplied all the fireworks the New York Mets needed.
Despite first pitch moving up one hour because of declining air quality, Alvarez hit two solo home runs and Brett Baty added another as New York defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in the first major league game after the All-Star break. Christian Scott controlled the other side of the game, allowing three hits across 5 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out seven and walking none.
One concern followed the Mets out of the ballpark. Juan Soto left in the eighth inning because of soreness in his left calf. Soto said the discomfort felt more like cramping and planned to return Saturday. Interim manager Andy Green also said the club expected him to play during the weekend. The injury involved a different calf from the one Soto strained in April.
Alvarez breaks his drought with two violent swings
Alvarez had not homered since June 30. He ended that drought in the third inning by driving a 1-2 slider from Aaron Nola over the center-field fence.
That swing gave Scott an early lead after the Mets had stranded runners in each of the first two innings. It also gave Alvarez the type of clean result that had been missing from his recent at-bats.
His second homer landed in the seventh and did more damage. Baty opened the inning by taking Nola deep. Alvarez followed immediately with his 11th home run of the season, turning a tight one-run game into a 3-0 advantage. Nola entered the inning having allowed just one run through six frames, but the consecutive blasts ended his night.
“It’s as much power as you’re ever going to see in the 9-hole,” interim manager Andy Green said.
Green also acknowledged what the performance suggested. A catcher with Alvarez’s power probably should not remain at the bottom of the order for long.
The Mets desperately need that production. They entered the break ranked 12th in the National League with 398 runs. Injuries had also prevented them from building any rhythm, with Francisco Lindor, Alvarez, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr. combining to miss 259 games.
Situational hitting remains an issue. New York loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth but failed to score after A.J. Ewing lined into a double play. Alvarez did not fix every offensive problem with two swings. Still, he reminded everyone how dangerous the lineup becomes when he attacks pitches inside the strike zone.
Scott keeps Philadelphia quiet
Scott never allowed the Phillies to build a sustained rally.
J.T. Realmuto singled to begin the third inning, but he remained at first. Bryce Harper doubled with one out in the fourth and also failed to advance. Scott attacked the strike zone, worked without a walk and kept Philadelphia from turning isolated hits into pressure.
His final batter nearly changed the game.
Kyle Schwarber drove a pitch toward the right-field seats in the sixth. Carson Benge raced toward the wall as the ball struck the railing above it and bounced back onto the field. Instead of a tying home run, Schwarber had a double. Brooks Raley then entered and recorded the final out of the inning.
Scott has now delivered consecutive scoreless starts for the first time in his major league career. His latest performance improved his record to 3-1 while giving the Mets the precise work they needed after a difficult first half.
Huascar Brazobán retired the Phillies in order in the seventh. Luke Weaver surrendered a solo homer to Trea Turner in the eighth, ending a run of 25 straight appearances without an earned run, but Philadelphia never pulled closer.
A.J. Ewing restored the three-run margin with an RBI double in the ninth. Minutes later, Devin Williams retired the side to record his 100th career save and his 14th of the season.
Wildfire smoke covers Citizens Bank Park
Smoke from fires burning in Canada and Minnesota drifted into Philadelphia and gave the stadium an unusual, unsettling appearance.
The sun carried a deep orange tint as it dropped behind the scoreboard. A gray layer hung over the upper deck and softened the stadium lights. Every high fly forced fielders to track a white baseball against a smoke-stained sky rather than the usual clear summer backdrop.
Air quality concerns pushed the scheduled start from 7:10 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. Conditions continued to decline during the game, though both teams completed the night without a serious incident.
That atmosphere gave Alvarez’s home runs an even sharper visual contrast. Both drives disappeared into a sky that looked nothing like a normal July evening in Philadelphia.
One win with the trade deadline approaching
Nobody in the Mets clubhouse is planning a parade after one victory.
New York entered the break at 40-57, its worst first half since 1995. The club sat 12 games outside the final National League wild-card position and faced 19 straight games against teams holding playoff places. Thursday’s win improved the Mets to 41-57, but the standings still leave little room for a genuine second-half recovery.
The Aug. 3 trade deadline is now approaching quickly. Relievers Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter are among the clearest candidates to move. Starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes are also expected to attract interest, while Baty and Alvarez present more complicated decisions because both remain under team control.
That context gave Thursday’s performances added weight. Alvarez looked like a middle-of-the-order catcher. Baty continued a recent surge. Scott showed he can handle a dangerous lineup inside a difficult road environment.
One night will not rescue the Mets’ season. It did give them dominant pitching, timely power and a clean finish against a division rival.
The smoke never cleared. For nine innings, New York’s baseball finally did.
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FAQS
1. How many home runs did Francisco Alvarez hit against the Phillies?
Alvarez hit two solo home runs. He went deep in the third inning and again in the seventh.
2. What was the final score of the Mets and Phillies game?
The Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park.
3. How did Christian Scott pitch against Philadelphia?
Scott threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out seven and did not issue a walk.
4. Why did the Mets and Phillies game start early?
Officials moved first pitch forward by one hour because wildfire smoke caused worsening air quality in Philadelphia.
5. Why did Juan Soto leave the game?
Soto exited in the eighth inning with soreness in his left calf. The Mets expected him to return during the weekend.
I live for the roar of the crowd, the rush of a new city, and the kind of moments that turn into lifelong memories. Sports keep me energized, travel keeps me grounded, and every journey gives me a fresh story to tell.
