Mets Ended Losing Streak Against Phillies

The New York Mets secured a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday to snap a five-game slide.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Baseball

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The New York Mets snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Friday, led by Zac Thornton's pitching. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The New York Mets snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3. Starter Zac Thornton led the effort on the mound by pitching six innings.

Why it matters

The victory provides a momentary reprieve for the Mets during a difficult season. While the team remains mathematically eliminated from the 2026 playoff picture, the win highlights individual growth from their younger roster members.

In his start on Friday, 24-year-old Zac Thornton allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk over six innings of work. The effort helped the Mets secure the 6-3 win, marking an end to their recent five-game losing streak.

The players

Zac Thornton

He is a 24-year-old pitcher for the New York Mets who has recorded a 3.40 ERA this season.

New York Mets

The New York Mets are a professional baseball team competing in the National League East division.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Pennsylvania.

The details

Zac Thornton anchored the defensive effort through six innings before being relieved by the Mets bullpen. The bullpen successfully held the lead to seal the win against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Timeline

  1. The New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies on September 18, 2026.

  2. Zac Thornton may continue contributing to the team in 2027.

Season Trajectory

Despite the win, the Mets have already been excluded from the 2026 playoff picture. This victory marks a modest shift in the team's late-season rhythm rather than a change to their standing within the division.

The result halts the current five-game losing streak, providing a momentary positive outcome for the franchise. The performance by Zac Thornton over six innings serves as a metric for his development for the upcoming 2027 roster.

The takeaway

Ending a losing streak allows the younger members of the roster to gain valuable high-pressure experience during the final stretch of the season. Players like Zac Thornton now have an opportunity to solidify their roles ahead of spring training next year.

Further reading

For more news from the diamond, visit our Baseball section.

Live Poll

Does a late-season win provide meaningful hope for your local team's future performance?