Francisco Alvarez blasts two home runs, Christian Scott strikes out seven in Mets’ 4-1 win over Phillies

The Mets hit three solo home runs against veteran Aaron Nola to beat the Phillies, 4-1, and win their first game after the All-Star break.

Here are the takeaways…

— Francisco Alvarez stepped up with his seventh career multi-HR game, hitting two solo home runs to lead the offense.

He gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a solo HR to dead center off of Nola. The homer traveled 416 feet through the smog and was his 10th of the season. The 24-year-old shook off getting hit by a backswing in the third inning and helped deliver clutch insurance runs, hitting back-to-back homers with Brett Baty off Nola in the seventh. The two solo blasts pushed the Mets’ lead to 3-0.

— Christian Scott gave the Citizens Bank Park crowd another show following the All-Star festivities earlier in the week, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

The right-hander retired the first six Phillies he faced, including two strikeouts. He let up his first hit to J.T. Realmuto to lead off the bottom of the third inning before settling back in to get the next three outs, including two more strikeouts. Scott got beat by Bryce Harper with a one-out double in the fourth, but was able to escape the inning with two quick outs.

Scott nearly ruined his impressive performance in the sixth inning. He allowed a double to Kyle Schwarber that was initially thought to be a home run, but it hit the railing in RF and stayed in play. His night then ended before facing more left-handed hitters, throwing 79 pitches (56 strikes) and allowing just three hits.

— Juan Soto opened his second half of the 2026 season with a first inning single that bounced off Trea Turner‘s glove, but New York’s hitting struggles with runners on base continued as Bo Bichette grounded into an inning ending 3-6-3 double play.

Soto walked with two outs in the third inning, although, Bichette couldn’t come through again and struck out to end the frame.

— Despite loading the bases with no outs against Nola in the fifth inning, the Mets weren’t able to add onto their lead. Jared Young lined out to Harper, who was able to touch first base in time for the double play. Bichette got his third big opportunity after Philadelphia intentionally walked Soto, but flied out to right field to end the scoring chance.

— Brooks Raley was able to get the third out of the sixth inning after Schwarber’s near homer, striking out first-time All-Star Brandon Marsh with two on base. Huascar Brazoban kept the Philly bats quiet with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Luke Weaver‘s scoreless streak of 25 straight appearances ended in the eighth, letting up a solo home run to Turner as the Phillies trailed, 3-1.

— A.J. Ewing put the Mets back up three runs in the top of the ninth with a two-out RBI double to left field that ricocheted off wall in foul territory, driving in Young from first base to go up 4-1. Devin Williams closed things down with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Game MVP: Francisco Alvarez

On a weird night with the poor air quality, Alvarez found a way to lift two home runs and give the offense some life.

Highlights