Vince Velasquez
Bryce Harper homered in the eighth inning. | PHOTO: Len Yancy
Kyle Gibson walked off the mound following the sixth inning and let out a scream with the pump of his fist. It capped off an outstanding home debut that helped the Phillies to a 4-2 victory over the Mets, and more importantly, sole possession of the top spot in the National League East. 
 
“I think I can get used to all these big moments and big spots being really meaningful and a lot on the line,” Gibson said. “That's just so much fun.” 
 
Gibson tossed six solid innings, limiting the Mets to one run. He also delivered a go-ahead hit in the fifth with a single up the middle. 
 
“He got to 2-0, I was like, ‘He’s got to be taking right here,’” Bryce Harper said, “Then, bam, base knock; me and J.T. [Realmuto] looked at each other like, ‘All right, well, there we go.’” 
 
Gibson escaped a bases-loaded no-out situation in the fourth, then worked around a leadoff double in the fifth. The 30,106 fans in attendance went wild when both innings came to a close. 
 
“Overall, I'm a fairly even-keeled guy, but that overflow of emotion just kind of happens in some of those big situations,” Gibson said. “I don't know that I really could imagine what this atmosphere would look like. It’s met or exceeded every one of my expectations and the excitement I had coming here.” 
 
Alec Bohm committed an error in the seventh, allowing the tying run to reach base for the Mets, but Hector Neris escaped unscathed. 
 
Harper, who was greeted with "MVP" chants throughout the night, delivered a two-run homer in the eighth to give the Phillies some insurance runs. 
 
“Big spot, big moment,” Harper said. “Ended up being a big homer as well going into the ninth.” 
 
Ian Kennedy surrendered a solo-shot in the final frame but closed things out to record his first save with the Phillies. 
 
The two clubs resume the series on Saturday with Ranger Suarez on the mound for the Phillies. The Mets will counter with right-hander Tylor Megill. 
 
The Phillies enter Saturday sitting atop the division for the first time since May. 
 
“It’s better than the alternative,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It's just a great atmosphere tonight. We want to continue to build off of this, but this is a big win for us.”

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