PHILADELPHIA -- The New York Mets are starting to pull away.
Bartolo Colon tossed seven scoreless innings and the Mets extended their winning streak to six games with a 9-4 victory Wednesday over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
The Mets (70-56) opened a season-high 6 1/2-game lead atop the National League East over the Washington Nationals.
The Amazin's are now on pace for 90 wins. They improved to 11-1 against the Phillies this season.
The latest win included a few anxious moments late as the Mets withstood a four-run eighth against relievers Eric O'Flaherty, Carlos Torres and Tyler Clippard that allowed Philadelphia to claw within 6-4.
O'Flaherty was charged with three runs, two of which scored on Cameron Rupp's double against Torres. Nine of 19 lefty batters have reached against O'Flaherty since he was acquired from the Oakland Athletics.
Manager Terry Collins eventually inserted the heavily used Clippard, but the damage continued. Shortstop Wilmer Flores committed an error to prolong the inning. Jeff Francoeur then produced an RBI single to pull the Phillies within two runs. Clippard finally stranded the tying runs on base by striking out Darnell Sweeney.
Meanwhile, the Mets have now scored 14, 14, 5, 16, 6 and 9 runs in their past six games. They have 40 homers in August, matching their total in June 2006 for the most in a month in franchise history.
Michael Cuddyer finished 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera dropped a game-opening fly ball off the bat of Curtis Granderson for a two-base error. Granderson ultimately scored on Daniel Murphy's groundout. Cuddyer had an RBI double and Michael Conforto had an RBI single in the three-run first inning against rookie Jerad Eickhoff.
Eickhoff, acquired from the Texas Rangers in the trade for Cole Hamels, settled down and retired 16 straight batters at one point. Conforto snapped that streak with a two-out double in the sixth. Juan Uribe plated Conforto with a single. Cuddyer added a two-run homer against Hector Neris in the eighth for a 6-0 lead.
Colon (11-11) earned only his second win since June 12. He allowed three singles in the first inning but coaxed a timely double play from Freddy Galvis. Colon ultimately logged seven scoreless innings. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out eight in a 107-pitch effort.
Ho-hum: A day after Tuesday's flare-up ignited by Hansel Robles' quick pitch to Darin Ruf, the Mets and Phillies played without incident.
What's next: Jonathon Niese (8-9, 3.80 ERA) opposes right-hander Aaron Harang (5-14, 4.67) in Thursday's 7:05 p.m. ET series finale. The Mets will bid for their first four-game sweep against the Phillies since Sept. 6-9, 2002.
