Phillies Win, Mets Streak
Philadelphia Phillies defeat New York Mets 2-1, extending Mets' losing streak to seven games
Derek Hill robbed Juan Soto of a go-ahead two-run home run with a sensational leaping catch at the wall, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday. The victory extended New York's losing streak to seven games and spoiled Andy Green's debut as interim manager — the third managerial change in baseball this season.
Zack Wheeler dominated his former team over seven innings, improving to 8-1 with a 2.03 ERA. The Phillies, now 37-17 under Don Mattingly, hold the top NL wild-card spot. The Mets, carrying a $358 million payroll, sit at 34-48 — nine and a half games out of the final wild-card position.
Hill's Catch Saves Wheeler's Night in First Inning
The play came in the bottom of the first inning. With a runner on base and two outs, Soto launched a deep fly ball to right-center. Hill sprinted to the wall and leaped to snare it, wiping out what would have been a 2-1 Mets lead. "I just saw it go up and knew I had to get to the wall," Hill said. "To come up with it in that spot, with Zack on the mound, that's huge," according to MLB.com.
Hill also scored the game-winning run. In the seventh inning, Trea Turner laced a two-out RBI single off Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán to put Philadelphia ahead 2-1. Bryce Harper had given the Phillies their first run with an RBI single in the first. Wheeler held New York to just four hits across seven innings, throwing 98 pitches.
Mets Fire Mendoza Hours Before First Pitch
The Mets announced Carlos Mendoza's firing at 8:30 AM on Friday — hours before the game. Mendoza went 34-47 before losing his job, making him the third MLB manager fired in 2026. He had led New York to the 2024 NLCS. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said, "Despite all of our efforts, Mendy's included, we haven't been able to get this going this year. I take responsibility for that," per Sportsnet.
Owner Steve Cohen did not soften his message. "There is no sugar-coating it: This season has been a disappointment and our fans deserve better," he said at a press conference at Citi Field, according to Yahoo Sports. The final straw was a June 24 game against the Cubs in which the Mets committed six errors. New York carries the second-highest payroll in baseball.
Andy Green Steps In With a Tough Task Ahead
Andy Green replaced Mendoza as interim manager. Green had previously managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019. He most recently served as the Mets' Senior VP of Player Development. His debut ended in defeat. The Mets are now 9.5 games out of the final NL wild-card spot with the trade deadline approaching, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
Analysts say the Mets could become sellers before the deadline. Leader Telegram noted the team may move veteran assets in favor of younger players already in the pipeline, like prospects Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen argued Mendoza was "the least culpable" of the organization's failures, describing the roster as a "morass."
Phillies' Turnaround Under Mattingly Is Now a Model
Philadelphia fired its own manager, Rob Thomson, back in April after a 9-19 start. Don Mattingly took over and the Phillies have gone 37-17 since — the best record in baseball over that span. They are now within four games of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and hold the top NL wild-card seed, per Lethbridge Herald.
The contrast between the two franchises is stark. The Phillies acted quickly in April and reaped the rewards. The Mets waited until late June — after seven straight losses and a record 72-102 since June 2025, the worst in the NL outside Colorado. Mattingly's success has become the counterpoint to every question about whether a mid-season manager change can actually work.
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