Zach Eflin struck out nine over five scoreless innings Wednesday night, and Rhys Hoskins and Odubel Herrera each homered as the Philadelphia Phillies kept their flickering playoff hopes alive by beating the visiting New York Mets 4-0 in the finale of a three-game series.

The second straight win by the Phillies (78-73) kept them 5 1/2 games behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves heading into a four-game series beginning Thursday at Sun Trust Park.

The Braves reduced their magic number for winning the division to six with a 7-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon.

The Mets (70-82) have lost four of five and are assured of their second straight losing season.

Eflin (11-7) allowed three hits and issued three walks while tying his season high for strikeouts, set previously on May 7 and June 10. It was his second win in as many starts.

Five relievers combined to limit the Mets to three hits over the final four innings, with Pat Neshek recording the final three outs in a non-save situation.

The Phillies scored the only run they'd need in the first inning, when Hoskins hit a one-out homer off Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard (12-4).

Wilson Ramos led off the fourth with a single before Herrera launched a two-run homer.

The Phillies scored their final run in the fifth, when, with one out, Carlos Santana walked and advanced to third on another single by Ramos. Jose Bautista, who was acquired from the Mets on Aug. 30, then pinch-hit for Herrera and delivered an RBI double.

Hoskins had two hits while Aaron Altherr stole two bases.

Amed Rosario went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases for the Mets.

Syndergaard, who won his previous three starts, allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings. It was his shortest start since April 4, when he also lasted four innings against the Phillies.

--Field Level Media