NEW YORK (AP) - Closer Jeurys Familia and setup man Addison Reed were out, even before the first pitch. Then starter Gabriel Ynoa got yanked after just two innings.
A day after burning through 10 pitchers in a stirring win, the New York Mets needed someone to own the mound.
Hansel Robles provided a big boost from the bullpen Friday night, escaping a seventh-inning jam and finishing a 10-5 win over Philadelphia that kept the Mets atop the NL wild-card race.
“Hansel stepped up and got us through it,” manager Terry Collins said, later adding, “really saved us.”
The Mets are a game ahead of San Francisco for the first NL wild-card spot, with St. Louis a half-game behind the Giants.
Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run rally in the fifth inning. 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.
“It was a pivotal spot. He threw me a BP (batting practice) fastball or changeup, I’m not sure,” Joseph said.
Robles stayed in, didn’t allow a hit and earned his first career save.
“It’s a sense of pride for me to do that,” he said through a translator.
Collins emptied his bullpen in a 9-8, 11-inning win over the Phillies on Thursday night. With his team competing for a playoff spot, Collins didn’t hesitate to pull Ynoa, who gave up two quick runs on five hits and a walk.
“I just said I don’t like the way this is going,” Collins said.
Collins said before the game he wouldn’t bring in Reed and Familia because of their recent workload. Josh Smoker (3-0) pitched one inning.
Collins kept turning to his bench, using three straight pinch hitters in a three-run seventh.
“You come to the park these days, you know you’re going to get into the game,” he said.
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.
TOUGH GUY
Mets SS Asdrubal Cabrera left in the eighth inning, a few innings after fouling a ball off his right knee. Cabrera fell to the ground, was checked by a trainer and stayed in. Cabrera has been dealing with a banged-up left knee, and Collins said he might need to give him a day off.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Cabrera said.
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.
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