Tyrone Taylor broke a scoreless tie in the eighth with a solo homer off Cristopher Sánchez, but the Phillies responded in the bottom half. Buddy Kennedy’s RBI double off David Peterson knotted the game at 1-1. Peterson, who pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings, was otherwise sharp before the late rally.
In the ninth, Nick Castellanos singled with one out and swiped second after Alec Bohm struck out. Down 0-2, Realmuto stayed alive against a 99.5 mph fastball on the outer edge, lining it into right-center for his sixth career walk-off hit, sending Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy.
The Mets (81-68) remain tied with Atlanta for the final NL wild card spot after the Braves lost in Los Angeles later on Sunday. New York, which squandered a 4-0 lead the day before, has now dropped just four of its last 16 games. Meanwhile, the Phillies (90-59), who have a commanding lead in the NL East, reached 90 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since their 2008-2011 run.
José Ruiz (4-1) worked a clean ninth for the win, while Sánchez, struck out seven across eight innings and scattered six hits. His ERA over his last six starts sits at an impressive 1.99.
The Phillies begin a seven-game road trip Monday with Ranger Suárez (12-6, 3.05) set to face Milwaukee’s Aaron Civale (6-8, 4.57). Philadelphia’s magic number to clinch the NL East is down to five games.
