Juan Soto's homer leads Mets to 6-3 win that keeps Phillies from taking over top NL wild-card spot

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto hit a three-run homer and the New York Mets kept the Philadelphia Phillies from gaining ground in the National League wild-card race with a 6-3 victory Friday night.

Edmundo Sosa went 3 for 3 with a home run and a double for the Phillies, who are tied with the Cubs and Padres at 85-69 for the three NL wild cards — five games ahead of Arizona. Derek Hill also went deep and Bryson Stott had an RBI double.

Soto also doubled and finished with three hits. A.J. Ewing’s two-run single capped a three-run first inning for the last-place Mets, who ended a five-game losing streak — their longest under interim manager Andy Green. Carson Benge had an RBI single in the first and reached base three times.

Francisco Lindor remained at 299 career homers after going 2 for 5 with a double.

Rookie left-hander Zac Thornton (5-5) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked one. Thornton has permitted two runs or fewer eight times in 14 big league starts.

Dedniel Núñez got four outs for his second career save and first since July 13, 2024.

José Urquidy tossed 4 2/3 innings of scoreless bulk relief in his Phillies debut. Urquidy, designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, was claimed off waivers Thursday.

Phillies opener Tim Mayza (3-4) was charged with three runs. He threw 33 pitches but recorded just one out — the shortest outing by a Philadelphia starter since Cristopher Sánchez got only one out against the Washington Nationals on July 29, 2021.

The Mets will retire the No. 15 jersey worn by Hall of Fame center fielder Carlos Beltrán on Saturday before RHP Christian Scott (4-5, 3.76 ERA) opposes Phillies RHP Andrew Painter (3-9, 5.54).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, second from left, pulls pitcher Tim Mayza, left, out of the game during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Juan Soto celebrates his three-run home run in the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Juan Soto looks after his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' A.J. Ewing reacts after hitting a two-run double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, cut an electronic monitoring device off his ankle, just days after his arrest for keeping child sexual abuse material in storage units in California, authorities said Tuesday.

Thomas Markle was in custody awaiting a hearing in federal court in Tampa, Florida, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.

He was arrested shortly after he cut off the ankle bracelet at 1:45 a.m., Essayli said.

Markle’s arrest on Friday followed the seizure of approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books that contained suspected child sexual abuse images in storage in the Los Angeles area, Essayli said.

During his arrest last week, he was taken from a senior care center in Lakeland by ambulance. Hours later, a judge allowed Markle to be released on the condition that he be electronically monitored, which typically means wearing an ankle tether.

The judge also ordered a mental competency exam and a report by Nov. 20.

His daughter, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. She is an American citizen and actor who starred in the U.S. television drama “Suits.”

Meghan recently said she was “deeply distressed” by allegations that a collection of child sexual abuse images had been found at her father’s former home. She also revealed that a letter containing “troubling allegations” about him had been sent to police in London in 2019.

“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” Meghan said of the letter. “I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them.”

Thomas Markle was living in the Philippines this year when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. That forced him to return to the U.S.

His arrest followed reports by The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper, that Meghan’s half brother found a collection of child sexual abuse images while clearing out their father’s home in the Philippines. That discovery led to information about two U.S. storage units in California, which Markle had rented since 2008.

FILE - Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, takes part in the Scar Tree Walk in Melbourne, Australia on April 16, 2026. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive to attend the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial at the European Parliament in Brussels, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Meghan, center, Duchess of Sussex, attends the opening of "Lost Screen Memorial" at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (Nicolas Tucat/Pool Photo via AP)