PHILADELPHIA — The first rule when playing against the Phillies, especially in their ballpark, is to never let your guard down after building an early lead.
Though the Mets were without Francisco Lindor, they still looked comfortable on Saturday after blowing a four-run lead in the third inning.
But that was the only score the Mets got, and the Phillies burst through the ajar door.
Reid Garrett got a tough out in the seventh inning but couldn't finish the job, allowing a game-tying and game-winning double to Cal Stevenson and giving the Mets a 6-4 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Lindor missed his first game of the season due to back soreness.
Luisángel Acuña, transferred from Triple-A Syracuse and started at shortstop in his MLB debut, going 2-for-4 with two singles.
The Mets' lead in the National League third wild card spot narrowed to half a game behind the Braves, who then faced the Dodgers.
Luis Severino allowed just three hits in six innings, two of which were home runs by Bryce Harper.
The right-hander left the game after throwing 86 pitches, allowing three earned runs, striking out five and walking one.
Starling Marte walked left-hander Colby Allard with the bases loaded in the first inning to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Jose Iglesias singled as the leadoff batter of the game, and with two outs, Pete Alonso, J.D. Martinez, and Marte all reached base on consecutive walks.
Francisco Alvarez swung at the first pitch but was out with the bases loaded.
The Mets extended their lead to 4-0 in the third inning.
The first run of the inning came on a throwing error by Cody Clemens after catching Alonso's grounder to third base, and then Marte hit a two-run triple.
The comeback began with a leadoff double by Mark Vientos followed by a single by Brandon Nimmo.
Allard left the game after pitching three innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
Former Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
After Severino struck out the first 10 batters, Harper hit a home run in the fourth inning to put the Phillies up 4-1.
It was the first home run Severino has allowed in his past three starts.
Harper returned in the sixth inning and hit a two-run homer to cut the Mets' lead to 4–3.
Trea Turner walked with two outs, and then Harper threw seven pitches before sending a sweeper from the bottom of the strike zone over the right field fence.
Danny Young allowed back-to-back singles to Bryson Stott and JT Realmuto to start the top of the seventh.
After a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Marsh advanced runners to second and third, Garrett struck out pinch-hitter Weston Wilson.
But Stevenson pounced on a cutter ball with the count full, hitting a two-run double to put the Mets behind 5-4.
Martinez was batting first in the top of the eighth and hit a ball that looked like it would fall to the Phillies' relief pitchers, but Stevenson hit it over the fence in right-center field to prevent Martinez from tying the game.
JT Realmuto hit an RBI double off Ryne Stanek in the eighth inning to extend the Phillies' lead to 6-4.
