Phillies 16, Mets 1: Chase Utley singled in a run in two different at-bats during an eight-run first inning and Ryan Howard hit a grand slam to cap a seven-run ninth as visiting Philadelphia embarrassed New York.

Utley finished with four hits and four RBIs and Juan Pierre went 5-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Phillies, who pulled back to within four games of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot in the National League.

Tyler Cloyd (2-1) had no trouble making the lead stand up, allowing one run on three hits in a career-high eight innings. The rookie right-hander needed only 88 pitches to get through eight frames while walking two and striking out six.

Jeremy Hefner (2-7) got the start for the Mets and did not record an out, serving up six straight singles before walking Kevin Fransden with the bases loaded to end his night. Utley, Howard and Dominic Brown each singled in a run off Hefner.

Collin McHugh came on and hit Erik Kratz with the bases loaded, surrendered a two-run single to Rollins and served up Utley’s second RBI single to cap the frame. McHugh ended up working three innings and five other relievers tossed an inning apiece before the Phillies exploded against three different pitchers in the ninth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Mets failed to score more than three runs for the 16th straight home game, tying the 2006 Mariners for the longest such streak since 1949. The 1918 New York Yankees hold the overall record at 18 games. … The Mets also set a franchise record for first-inning runs allowed in a home game and another by using 10 pitchers in a nine-inning game. … The Phillies finished with 21 hits - 19 singles. The 19 singles were another New York franchise record.