PHILADELPHIA — The starter-turned-outfielder-turned-reliever got a win and a hit in the same game.
Darin Ruf hit a three-run homer, Odubel Herrera had four hits and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Mets 4-3 on Tuesday night to snap New York’s franchise-record 11-game road winning streak.
Lucas Duda hit two homers for the NL East champion Mets, who hadn’t lost away from home since Sept. 6, at Miami.
Adam Loewen (1-0) retired the only batter he faced in relief of starter David Buchanan to earn his first win since 2007 with Baltimore. The lefty struck out Duda with runners on second and third to end the fifth.
Loewen singled in the bottom of the fifth for his hit since 2011 with Toronto.
The 31-year-old began his career as a starting pitcher for the Orioles. He switched to the outfield after having elbow issues. That didn’t work out and the Phillies gave him a chance to pitch again in the minors last year.
"All of it took about two minutes," Loewen said about retiring Duda and then getting a hit. "It felt pretty normal because I did it for five years. It’s fun to run the bases and hit."
Loewen borrowed a bat from Jeff Francoeur and batting gloves from Darnell Sweeney. He had his own helmet.
Duda hit a two-run shot off Ken Giles on an 0-2 pitch in the ninth before Giles retired Travis d’Arnaud for his 14th save in 18 chances.
"He’s getting hot at the right time," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Duda.
Bartolo Colon (14-13) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings for his first loss to the Phillies since Aug. 30, 2014. He beat them four times this season.
The Phillies have to win three of their final five games to avoid losing 100 games for the first time since 1961.
The Mets are looking ahead to their first post-season since 2006 and will be setting up their rotation during the final week. They entered with a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for home-field advantage in the NL division series.
Before the game, Collins reiterated that Matt Harvey won’t be limited by a pitch count when he starts in the post-season.
"When he goes out and pitches, however many times that is, yeah the reins will be off," Collins said. "But we’ve still got to take into consideration we can’t pitch him six times."
Ruf hit a liner way out to centre in the first to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead. He has seven homers in 82 at-bats since Aug. 22.
"It was nice to see him come through," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He had been swinging the bat well against right-handers."
Duda connected in the fourth, sending a 440-shot off the brick wall behind the fence in centre field for his team-leading 26th homer. His drive off Giles gave him seven multi-homer games this season, tying a team record shared by Dave Kingman (1976) and Carlos Delgado (2008).
Buchanan was pulled after the Mets got runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth. But Loewen entered and fanned Duda swinging at a curve. Buchanan gave up one run and six hits in 4 2-3 innings.
New York loaded the bases with one out against Dalier Hinojosa in the sixth, but Curtis Granderson flied out to shallow left and David Wright flied out to right.
Aaron Altherr had an RBI single in the seventh for a 4-1 lead.
RARE APPEARANCE
Mets LHP Jonathon Niese made his second career relief appearance. He allowed three hits and one run in 1 2-3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: LHP Steven Matz woke up with discomfort in the right side of his back. His start Wednesday night might be pushed back, but he’s not expected to miss the post-season. … 2B Daniel Murphy hit a foul ball off his right foot in the ninth inning and hopped around the infield before getting back in the batter’s box. He stayed in after reaching on a fielder’s choice.
Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco is planning to play in the weekend series against Miami. Franco has been on the DL with a broken left wrist since Aug. 18.
UP NEXT
Matz (4-0, 2.27 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Mets against Phillies RHP Alec Asher (0-5, 7.52). Matz might be scratched if his back isn’t feeling better.
