NEW YORK -- Mets manager Terry Collins thought about Jim Leyland when New York was trailing by 10 runs Saturday night.Collins recalled the veteran manager telling him that, in a blowout, he should remove his starters in favor of bench players. After all, the backups are the ones with something to play for.Collins heeded the advice, and it almost paid historic dividends.After taking out Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Reyes in the top of the fifth inning, the Mets finished just short of what would have been the largest comeback victory in team history, losing 10-8 to the Philadelphia Phillies.The failed rally left New York tied with San Francisco for the two NL wild cards. St. Louis is a half-game back.Gavin Cecchini got his first two major league hits and drove in two as a replacement for the Mets, who brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth and the winning run in the ninth, but could not overcome the early onslaught. T.J. Rivera also had two RBI.I absolutely tip my hat to the job those young kids did tonight, Collins said. They had energy.I think I almost tripped going around first base, Cecchini said of his first major league. Its something you always dream of as a kid.Philadelphias Maikel Franco and Darin Ruf each hit a long home run for the second consecutive night as Philadelphia built a 10-0 lead by the fourth.Pressed into a spot start because Noah Syndergaard was battling strep throat, Sean Gilmartin (0-1) made more work for New Yorks exhausted bullpen. Philadelphia sent 11 to the plate in the first, and the Mets had to use six relievers after calling on 16 pitchers during the first two games of the series.After the game, Collins said Syndergaard would start Tuesday in Miami.Gilmartin fell behind 3-0 after 12 pitches on Francos 25th homer, a 422-foot blast, and left having allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning.Jay Bruce hit his first career pinch-hit home run with one out in the ninth to pull the Mets to within two. Eric Campbell and Michael Conforto then drew walks before Michael Mariot got his second save by retiring Lucas Duda on a popup and Travis dArnaud on a comebacker.The Mets got their biggest comeback victory when they overcame an eight-run deficit to win 11-8 at Houston on Sept. 2, 1972.That Mets team is relentless, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. They just keep coming at you.The Mets coaching staff thought New York was going to win with a game-ending home run for the second time in three nights.Dickie Scott said Lucas Dudas going to hit a home run to win the game when we started the ninth inning, Collins said. Didnt, but he was certainly in the situation to do that.The Mets started the comeback with four unearned runs in the fifth off Phillies starter Alec Asher (1-1) and added two more in the sixth. In the eighth, Hector Neris allowed Cecchinis RBI double, but then got Rivera to fly out to center and Brandon Nimmo to pop up to end the threat.TRAINERS ROOMMets: INF Wilmer Flores (wrist) is still unable to hit. Collins said Flores wasnt close to hitting.Phillies: With the left-handed Gilmartin on the mound, Ryan Howard was held out of the lineup.PINCH-HITTING AND PRODUCINGBruces blast was New Yorks 13th pinch-hit home run this year, the most in team history, breaking a tie with the 1983 Mets.UP NEXTMets: RHP Robert Gsellman (2-2, 3.13 ERA) makes his sixth major league start in the final home game for the Mets. The lanky rookie struggled against the Phillies in his first start, allowing four earned runs in six innings, but has only allowed seven earned runs over his next 22 innings (2.86 ERA).Phillies: RHP Jake Thompson (3-5, 5.62 ERA) pitches Philadelphias final road game of the season. Although it was expected that he would be shut down along with Vince Velasquez, Thompson is instead looking for his third straight win. Buy Real Jordans Online . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Cheap Jordan 11 . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. http://www.cheapjordansfreeshippingsale.com/?p=7 . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Real Jordans For Cheap Prices .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Cheap Air Jordans From China . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste.Steve McClaren has been dismissed by Newcastle just nine months after taking charge at St James Park. The club confirmed the news on Friday morning and Sky Sports News HQ understands Newcastle are in advanced talks with Rafa Benitez over a three-year deal for him to replace McClaren, who left with the Magpies 19th in the Premier League and one point from safety. McClaren was relieved of his duties by Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley - SSN HQ understands he chose to take the news over the phone rather than meet face-to-face - after toiling through a campaign which saw his side win just six times in 28 Premier League, including just two of their last 12. Skys Keith Downie brings us the news that Newcastle have sacked Steve McClaren A statement from Charnley on the clubs official website read: After the defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday the club has spent some time considering its position and has today concluded that Steve McClarens employment with the club will end with immediate effect. Five games which cost McClaren Newcastle sack Steve McClaren: Five games which cost him his job We acknowledge that reaching this decision has taken a number of days and that this has caused uncertainty for everyone involved, in particular for Steve and the players, for which we apologise. However we felt that this time was necessary to ensure the right decisions were reached with the best interests of the club at heart. Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could be next up for Newcastle I would like to thank Steve personally for his services to Newcastle United. He is a man of integrity and class and he has conducted himself with great dignity during this difficult time.Steve worked tirelessly to try and bring success to Newcastle United. He has the utmost respect of all the players, staff and management and he leaves with our very best wishes and sincere thanks. McClaren in quotes Steve McClarens managerial highs and lows in quotes We feel that a change is now needed in order to give the club the best possible chance of securing its Premier League future. A further announcement on a successor to Steve will be made in due course. Paul Merson says the way Newcastle United have sacked Steve McClaren is poor and disrespectful Benitez, who has been without a club since being sacked by Real Madrid in January, has been told that he will be able bring his own backroom staff to the club.dddddddddddd He arrived in Newcastle on Friday afternoon for face-to-face talks with the club and Sky Sports News HQ understands there very good chance the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss will be in charge in time to take training at the weekend and be in the dugout for the Monday Night Football clash with league leaders Leicester City. The relegation run-in Premier League relegation battle: Newcastle, Sunderland, Norwich and Aston Villas run-ins analysed McClaren was appointed last June as a replacement for John Carver and was expected to improve on the clubs 15th-place finish last season.He was allowed to invest in his squad and has spent £78m during his time on Tyneside, including £29m in January. As Steve McClaren looks set for a Newcastle exit, we look back at where it went wrong in the Newcastle managers own words That made Newcastle the Premier Leagues biggest spenders in the mid-season transfer window but it has had little impact.Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksander Mitrovic, Florian Thauvin, Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend were all recruited by McClaren for eight-figure sums. We take a look at Rafael Benitezs career since he arrived in England back in 2004 Of those, only Wijnaldum and Shelvey have been seen as successes by the clubs fans, with the latter appointed as captain in the injured Fabricio Coloccinis absence.Alan Pardew had been manager at Newcastle for more than four years until January 2015 following a period which saw the club have six other managers in as many years from 2004 to 2010. Also See: Five games which cost McClaren McClaren in quotes Shelvey: We let McClaren down Rafas ups and downs ' ' '