Mets use pitching, power to rout Phillies

Jose Quintana pitched seven dominant innings and the Mets hit a trio of three-run homers as New York pounded the host Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 on Friday.Francisco Alvarez and Brandon Nimmo each delivered a three-run blast in the Mets’ six-run fifth inning, which was more than enough offense for Quintana (9-9).The left-hander gave up just three hits without a walk and struck out four to improve to 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA over his last four starts for New York.Francisco Lindor added an RBI double before leaving with lower back soreness for the Mets (81-66), who moved within seven games of the first-place Phillies (88-59) in the National League East. Philadelphia avoided a shutout when Brandon Marsh clubbed a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth.The teams will face off twice more this weekend and then four times in New York, beginning next Thursday.After not allowing a hit through the first four innings, Aaron Nola (12-8) faltered in the fifth. He gave up back-to-back singles to open the inning before Alvarez hit an 0-1 curveball off the foul pole in left field to put the visitors ahead 3-0.Alvarez’s eighth homer was followed four batters later by Nimmo’s 19th home run – his first since Aug. 18. Nimmo’s blast came on another Nola curve, this one landing in the first row of seats in right field.

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