Alonso, Nimmo, Mark Vientos, and Francisco Alvarez each homered in a 10-6 victory over the Phillies on Thursday, a win that followed two more blowouts—10-1 and 10-0—over the Nationals. Vientos and Alonso set the tone early, belting first-inning homers off Taijuan Walker, who surrendered a career-high four long balls.
After Trea Turner’s two-run shot off Luis Severino evened the score in the third, Nimmo responded with a two-run blast of his own in the bottom half. Alvarez added a towering three-run homer in a five-run fourth that clanged off the plexiglass of the second-deck restaurant in left. Nimmo later chipped in with an RBI double, scoring on Vientos' single.
Rookie Luisangel Acuña, younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., capped the Mets' scoring with an RBI triple in the seventh off José Alvarado. Walker, roughed up for eight runs over 3 1/3 innings, saw his season ERA balloon to 6.91. The loss delayed the Phillies’ chance to clinch a third straight postseason berth until at least Friday, while their hopes for a first NL East title in 13 years will have to wait until Saturday at the earliest.
Walker, who has allowed 24 home runs in 82 innings this season, may again be left off the Phillies' postseason roster, as he was last year.
Walker's spot in the rotation comes up again on Tuesday when the Phillies host the Cubs. Skipper Rob Thomson said it will be a bullpen game.
