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Francisco Alvarez homered in the second inning and laced a key two-run double in the seventh on Saturday for the host New York Mets, who beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 in the third game of a four-game series.

The win by the Mets (86-69) prevented the playoff-bound Phillies (92-63) from clinching their first National League East title since 2011. Philadelphia’s magic number stayed at one heading into Sunday’s series finale.

New York entered Saturday holding the third NL wild-card spot, a game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves.

Kyle Schwarber homered leading off the game against Mets starter Sean Manaea (12-5) before Alvarez and Luisangel Acuna went deep in a three-batter span in the second against Phillies starter Ranger Suarez. Acuna is the third player in team history with at least three homers in his first seven big-league games in which he has had at least one plate appearance.

Nick Castellanos homered in the fifth for Philadelphia, and the Mets stranded five runners between the third and sixth before breaking through against Orion Kerkering (5-3) in the seventh. Starling Marte drew a leadoff walk and Pete Alonso was plunked one out later before Brandon Nimmo blooped an RBI single to left-center field to put New York up 3-2.

After Tyrone Taylor struck out, Alvarez doubled just past a diving Weston Wilson in left field to plate two more runs.

The Phillies rallied in the eighth, when J.T. Realmuto chased Manaea from the game with a leadoff single and went to third on a single by pinch hitter Bryson Stott. After pinch hitter Brandon Marsh popped out, Realmuto scored when another pinch hitter, Cal Stevenson, legged out the back end of a potential double-play ball.

Edwin Diaz relieved Reed Garrett and struck out Schwarber. Alonso added an RBI single in the bottom of the inning before Diaz earned his 19th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Manaea allowed the three runs on three hits and no walks while striking out six in his seven-plus innings.

Suarez gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.

–Field Level Media