The 2025 National League East title is down to the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets. Both teams were two of the top in the majors last year and are looking to win a World Series this year. One former Phillies reliever, Gregory Soto, recently helped his old team out.
After winning seven of the previous nine games, the Phillies hit the road to take on the Mets at Citi Field. The Phillies entered the three-game series on a seven-game losing streak in Queens but were coming in as the hotter team.
The Phillies took early leads in the first two games of the series against the Mets but lost both. Rookie pitcher Nolan McLean shut down the Phillies’ offense in the series finale on Wednesday as the Mets won 6-0 and swept the Phillies.
The Mets outscored the Phillies 25-8 during the series and extended their home win streak at Citi Field over the Phillies to 10 games. The Phillies took a four-game lead over the Mets into Thursday’s series opener against the Atlanta Braves.
Gregory Soto helps old team and allows go-ahead runs in Mets’ loss to Marlins
The Mets looked to build off their momentum after the sweep of the Phillies in the series opener against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. In a tied game heading into the seventh inning, the Mets brought in Soto to try to keep the score even.
Soto allowed a leadoff single and got the next batter to ground into a fielder’s choice, but everyone was safe after a fielding error by Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. The go-ahead run scored during the next at-bat after a single and a fielding error by Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo.
we have a bus pic.twitter.com/Inqcnod1dj
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 29, 2025
Soto continued to have no luck as the runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball with still no outs in the inning. After recording a strikeout for the first out of the inning, an additional run scored on an infield single, giving the Marlins a 6-4 lead.
The Mets replaced Soto with one out and two runners on base, and the Marlins scored one more run off a sac fly to take a 7-4 lead and later won the game. Although all three runs were unearned, Soto took the loss and did his part in helping the Phillies gain an additional game lead over the Mets in the division.
The Mets acquired Soto at this year’s trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles. The former Phillies castoff has pitched well for his new team, owning a 1.54 ERA with four holds and 12 strikeouts in 13 appearances.