LONDON (AP) — Catcher Luis Torrens turned Nick Castellanos’ bases-loaded slow roller in front of the plate in a game-ending double play, and the New York Mets held on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 on Sunday for a two-game split of their London Series.
New York rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the ninth inning against José Alvarado (1-3), who made the save for the second time in 13 chances.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Mark Vientos hit an RBI single on a two-hopper that third baseman Alex Bohm tried to backhand, Pete Alonso forced in a run when he was hit on the thigh by a cutter and catcher JT Realmuto allowed a run-scoring passed ball that the Mets leads 6-4.
Reed Garrett (6-2) allowed his first two batters to reach base in the bottom half, Bryce Harper loaded the bases with a single off Drew Smith and Alec Bohm forced in a run with a walk.
Castellanos tapped the ball in front of the plate, and Torrens picked it up and stepped back to the plate for a force out as pinch-runner Garrett Stubbs tried to slide home the tying run. Torrens then threw to first base, where Pete Alonso fell as he stretched for the final out, giving Smith his second save.
Pinch-hitter Dave Dahl had broken a 3-3 tie in the seventh with a home run off Dedniel Núñez for the Phillies, a major league best 45-20. Philadelphia won Saturday’s opener 7-2 as Major League Baseball came to London for the third time.
Bohm grounded into a runscoring double play with the bases loaded in the first, and Philadelphia opened a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Castellanos chugged around third on Edmundo Sosa’s double and scored when the relay throw bounced onto the turf and just over Torrens’ glove, and Whit Merrifield followed with an RBI single off Jose Quintana.
New York (28-36) tied the score in the sixth after loading the bases against former Met Taijuan Walker. Brandon Nimmo hit an RBI double off Gregory Soto and JD Martinez followed with a two-run single.
Walker, who suffered from shoulder soreness earlier this season, allowed two runs and two hits in 5 2/3 innings. Quintana gave up three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
FUN GAMES
Instead of throwing out the ceremonial first ball, Wrexham became co-owners Rob McElhenney and his wife, actress Kaitlin Olson, played a “ceremonial double act.” Olson rolled the ball to McElhenney at point-blank range, he threw to Chase Utley at second, and the former Phillies All-Star fired a strike at first to Harper.
The Phillie Phanatic dressed up as Beefeater to serve tea to the ESPN broadcast crew. The number of attendees was 55,074.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Trea Turner (hamstring) “did really well Saturday” on a grass football field next to the stadium, Thomson said. “We’re going to stage it again in Boston.” The two-time All-Star shortstop fielded grounders and hit into the cages.
Mets: OF Starling Marte was out of the lineup for the day after failing to make a catch in right field. Manager Carlos Mendoza said the plan for coming to London was to limit the 35-year-old to one match on the artificial turf due to a knee problem.
NEXT ONE
Phillies: RHP Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.33) is expected to open a three-game series in Boston on Tuesday.
Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (1-2, 3.00) will start against visiting Miami on Tuesday.
