NEW YORK -- The New York Mets stuck with Wilmer Flores at shortstop despite critics of his defensive play.
Flores again rewarded that confidence Tuesday.
He delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly in the eighth and a walk-off RBI single in the 10th as the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, at Citi Field.
Flores has driven in six runs in his past three games.
Tuesday's walk-off RBI was the second of his career. He beat the Colorado Rockies with a sacrifice fly on Sept. 8, 2014.
"He realizes there's going to be a day that you're going to make an error," manager Terry Collins said. "He's got to play through that. And I think he's doing that. You're starting to see a guy who is going to start swinging the bat like we know he can. He's going to put up some offensive numbers that people are going to be pretty impressed by."
Flores is now hitting .252 with a team-leading seven homers and 21 RBIs.
He delivered the game-winning hit on a slider from left-hander Elvis Araujo. Flores said he was looking for that pitch.
"It's a good feeling, obviously, because we got a win," Flores said.
The Mets avoided a disastrous defeat. They took a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning, when Jacob deGrom tired and was pulled after allowing a pair of one-out singles. The Mets ultimately surrendered four runs in the frame and required Flores' sacrifice fly in the bottom half to force extra innings.
"The most important thing is we got the win," deGrom said. "I went out there and tried to keep us in a position to win. And we got the win."
