Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Phillies are on the brink of clinching their first NL East title since 2011, following a decisive 12-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night at Citi Field. The atmosphere in the Phillies' clubhouse was charged with anticipation, evidenced by untouched glasses of champagne left behind as players departed for the team bus.

Third baseman Alec Bohm played a pivotal role in the win, going 4-for-5 with one home run and four RBIs. His three-run homer in the fourth inning expanded a three-run lead to an 8-2 margin, marking his second home run in three games. This game marked Bohm’s second return to the cleanup spot after recovering from a left-hand injury that sidelined him for over two weeks.

“It’ll be a little rowdy for sure,” Bohm said about the prospect of clinching the division title.

Bohm's performance has been instrumental throughout much of the season, earning him a starting position on the NL All-Star team. As of Friday's game, he boasts a .290 batting average with 15 home runs, 94 RBIs, and an .810 OPS.

Bryce Harper praised Bohm's resilience but also emphasized patience during his recovery. “I think he needs to give himself a little bit of grace too,” Harper stated. “Obviously, he wants to be great from the jump... He’ll show up when the lights turn on.”

Bohm acknowledged his tendency to be hard on himself but remains focused on maintaining consistency at bat. “Just do what I did tonight,” he said regarding replicating his first-half success. He aims to keep making contact and capitalize on good pitches while managing frustrations when outcomes don't meet expectations.

Reflecting on his approach post-injury, Bohm remarked, “It’s not a matter of being too overly frustrated... It’s obviously not always going to be easy... But keep at it.”

The Phillies will celebrate with fervor if they secure another win Saturday night and claim their long-awaited division title.