The Philadelphia Phillies completed a four-game sweep of the New York Mets on September 11, 2025, with a thrilling 6-4 comeback victory at Citizens Bank Park, showcasing the team’s late-season resilience and depth in the rotation. The win extended Philadelphia’s lead in the National League East to 11 games with just 15 contests remaining, positioning them to clinch the division as early as this weekend against the Kansas City Royals.
The night started shaky for Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo, who gave up four runs on five hits in the first inning, throwing 23 pitches and allowing the Mets to jump out to an early 4-0 lead. However, Luzardo quickly regained his rhythm, retiring the next 22 batters over seven dominant innings. He struck out 10 while issuing no walks, finishing the outing on just 74 pitches after the first frame.
The Phillies’ offense rallied in dramatic fashion to support Luzardo. Otto Kemp’s two-run homer in the fourth cut the deficit to 4-2, followed by Bryce Harper’s RBI double in the fifth that made it 4-3. The sixth inning saw a decisive three-run rally, highlighted by Kemp’s game-tying RBI double, Harrison Bader’s go-ahead RBI single, and Harper’s infield RBI single, putting Philadelphia ahead 6-4. Jhoan Duran then closed out the ninth, striking out all three batters for his 29th save of the season, continuing a streak of 25 consecutive Mets batters retired.
Manager Rob Thomson praised the team’s performance, calling the win “probably as impressive as any we’ve had all year.” Luzardo, now 14-6 on the season, has not lost since August 14 and has steadied the rotation in Wheeler’s absence. “The only thing we can do is continue and step up,” Luzardo said, reflecting on Philadelphia’s ability to adapt despite injuries to key starters.
The team’s post-trade deadline acquisitions have played a pivotal role in the turnaround. Harrison Bader, acquired from Minnesota, has been a revelation in center field, batting .528 against the Mets this season and delivering a go-ahead sixth-inning hit in the sweep’s final game. His presence, combined with Kemp’s timely power and Bryce Harper’s consistent production, has created a balanced lineup capable of producing late-game comebacks. Duran, also a midseason addition, has been dominant in the closer role, striking out 20 batters in just under 15 innings without walking any, demonstrating his value in high-pressure situations.
The sweep marks a reversal from Philadelphia’s recent struggles at Citi Field, where they were swept by the Mets in late August, tightening the NL East race at the time. Since then, the Phillies have surged, winning eight of their last ten games and posting a 26-13 record since the trade deadline—the best winning percentage in baseball over that stretch.
As the Phillies prepare for a three-game series against Kansas City, all eyes will be on Walker Buehler, who makes his first start for Philadelphia, facing Michael Lorenzen, returning to the mound where he threw a no-hitter in 2023. The matchup promises to provide further insight into the Phillies’ postseason potential and their ability to maintain dominance in the NL East.
For New Jersey baseball fans, Philadelphia’s sweep of the Mets carries extra resonance. With several New Jersey residents in attendance at Citizens Bank Park and regional media coverage highlighting the rivalry, local supporters are closely watching the Phillies’ march toward a potential division title. The sweep also underscores the significance of the Phillies-Mets rivalry for fans throughout the tri-state area, including New Jersey.
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