The Philadelphia Phillies rolled into New York on Sunday, September 20, 2026 and handed the Mets a convincing 7-2 defeat, with left-hander Cristopher Sánchez delivering 6.1 sharp innings and Justin Crawford providing the decisive offensive punch with three RBI. It was a clean, professional road win in a division rivalry game, Philadelphia pulling away early and never looking back against a Mets rotation that couldn't hold the zone.

Cristopher Sánchez Controls the Game from the Start

Sánchez was the story on the mound. He worked 6.1 innings, allowed six hits and two earned runs, issued zero walks, and punched out six Mets hitters. The zero-walk line is what stands out — Sánchez attacked the zone all night, never putting himself in trouble by giving away free bases. He got the win and deserved every bit of it.

The bullpen closed it out without drama. Alex McFarlane covered 0.2 innings, Chase Shugart worked a clean ninth inning frame, and José Alvarado added a strikeout in his inning of work. The Phillies did not allow an earned run after Sánchez departed.

Crawford and Bohm Provide the Offensive Foundation

Justin Crawford was the bat that broke the game open. He went 1-for-4 but that one hit came loaded, knocking in three runs and giving Philadelphia the cushion it needed. Alec Bohm was steady in the lineup as well, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Those two accounted for four of the Phillies' seven runs batted in on the night.

Mets Starter Jonah Tong Couldn't Survive the Fifth

New York's Jonah Tong took the loss after a rough outing. He allowed five hits and four earned runs across 4.2 innings, walking four batters — a recipe for giving road teams exactly the kind of crooked-number innings Philadelphia exploited. The Mets cycled through four more pitchers after Tong departed, including a disastrous 0.1-inning cameo from Kodai Senga, who surrendered three earned runs on two hits and three walks without recording a strikeout. That sequence effectively ended any hope of a New York comeback.

Turning Point: The Senga Implosion

The game was already tilting Philadelphia's way when Senga entered, but his appearance turned a competitive game into a blowout. Three walks and two hits in a single inning of work — the Phillies sent multiple batters to the plate and didn't waste the opportunity. By the time Austin Warren came in to stabilize things, the damage was done and the margin was insurmountable.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Cristopher Sánchez (W): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
  • Justin Crawford: 1-for-4, 3 RBI
  • Alec Bohm: 2-for-5, 1 RBI
  • José Alvarado: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K
  • Jonah Tong (L): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
  • Kodai Senga: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

For the Mets, Bo Bichette and Francisco Alvarez Kept It Respectable

New York's offense wasn't completely absent. Bo Bichette hit a solo home run going 1-for-4, and Francisco Alvarez had two hits in four at-bats. A.J. Ewing also went 2-for-2 off the bench. But the Mets left too many runners stranded to seriously threaten the Phillies' lead, and Sánchez made sure the middle innings stayed under control.

What's Next for Philadelphia

The Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park for their next homestand. Sunday's performance — particularly Sánchez on the mound and the lineup's ability to capitalize on walks and mistakes — was exactly the kind of road win that matters in September. Philadelphia went into Queens and took care of business. The schedule will tell the next chapter, but this one belongs to the Phillies.