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NEW YORK -- Rare is it for a team battling for a playoff berth to feel it gained momentum from a late-season loss. Jace Sternberger Super Bowl Jersey . But most teams dont lose like the New York Mets did Saturday night.The Mets look to retain at least a share of the lead in the National League wild-card race Sunday afternoon when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the regular-season home finale at Citi Field.The Mets (82-73) and San Francisco Giants enter Sunday tied for the top NL wild card. They are a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (81-73).New York won the first two contests of the four-game series against the Phillies on Thursday and Friday before falling 10-8 on Saturday. But the Mets felt pretty good about themselves after nearly coming back from a 10-0 deficit to win. Lucas Duda and Travis dArnaud stepped to the plate as the potential winning run in the ninth inning before popping out and grounding out, respectively.A comeback would have been the biggest in Mets history, exceeding an eight-run comeback in an 11-8 victory over the Houston Astros on Sept. 2, 1972.Tremendous comeback, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Im real proud of them.Collins was also feeling pretty good knowing the Mets should no longer have to rely on fill-in starters for their ravaged rotation. Ace right-hander Noah Syndergaard, who was scratched Friday from his scheduled start Saturday because of strep throat, had a successful bullpen session Saturday and starts Tuesday. Syndergaard and the Mets other non-rookie starter, 43-year-old Bartolo Colon, could both pitch twice next week if necessary.Weve got seven left, Collins said. You kind of like the pitching going forward right now.One of those pitchers the Mets will rely on is rookie right-hander Robert Gsellman, who is scheduled to make his sixth career start Sunday. Gsellman, who moved into the rotation in place of injured left-hander Jonathon Niese in August, is 1-2 with a 3.54 ERA as a starter and 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA overall. He made his first major league start against the Phillies on Aug. 28 and took the loss after allowing four runs over six innings in a 5-1 setback.The Phillies also send a rookie to the mound as right-hander Jake Thompson tries to provide the steady pitching Philadelphia has lacked during an eventful series in which it has been outscored 27-23.Offense is coming alive, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Theyve been swinging the bats well all week.The first three starters for the Phillies -- left-hander Adam Morgan and right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Alec Asher -- have combined to give up 13 runs (nine earned) in 14 1/3 innings while failing to pitch beyond the fifth inning. Philadelphia relievers have not been much better (10 runs, nine earned, in 14 innings).Bullpens been sputtering, Mackanin said.Thompson won his last two starts, a stretch in which hes allowed five runs over 11 innings. He earned the win Tuesday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Phillies 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Thompson has never faced the Mets. Marcedes Lewis Super Bowl Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Preston Smith Super Bowl Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Clay-Matthews-Jersey/ . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. CLEMSON, S.C. -- Jaron Blossomgame scored a season-high 27 points, four other Clemson players scored in double figures and the Tigers held off High Point 83-74 on Friday night.Donte Grantham and Avry Holmes added 13 points each to help Clemson (3-2) end a two-game losing skid.A little harder fought win than we wouldve liked down the stretch, Clemson coach Brad Brownell said, but I thought our guys played with really good offensive confidence.After coming up short against No. 9 Xavier and Oklahoma in last weeks Tire Pros Invitational, the Tigers shot 48 percent from the field and made 22 of their 24 free throws Friday.The Panthers (3-3) got 22 points from leading scorer Andre Fox, who made two 3-pointers and eight free throws.Hes a confident kid, High Point head coach Scott Cherry said. These games are only going to help him get better as the year goes on.Anthony Lindauer added 16 points for the Panthers, who trailed by 13 at halftime and as many as 16 in the second half.High Point would get to within four points on Lindauers layup with 6:17 to play, but a jumper by Marcquise Reed and a steal and dunk by Blossomgame pushed Clemsons lead back up to eight with 5:22 to play.Blossomgame, hes a problem and a heck of a player, Cherry said.Reed and Gabe DeVoe scored 11 points each for the Tigers.We dropped two games in Orlando, but were still a good team, Blossomgame said.BIG PICTUREHigh Point: The Panthers created some momentum after winning two of three games at the HPU Classic last week, but after a four-day layoff, High Point lost to an ACC squad for the secoond time this season. Paul Hornung Super Bowl Jersey. Virginia Tech thumped the Panthers 99-73 in Blacksburg, Va., on Nov. 15.Clemson: Shelton Mitchell, who was expected to be the starting point guard before a Nov. 8 knee surgery to repair torn meniscus sidelined him, made his season debut off the bench Friday. The Vanderbilt transfer had two assists, zero turnovers and no points on two shot attempts in 11 minutes of action.It was good to have him back, Brownell said. He certainly isnt where he was pre-injury.STAT OF THE NIGHT: Blossomgame has yet to find his long-range game, making just three of his 16 3-point attempts this season, but hes now scored 20 points or more in consecutive games by making 18 combined field goals.HE SAID IT: We have some warts that need attention, Brownell said. We also have some things that we do pretty well. The teams out there that are 5-0 or 5-1, maybe havent been exposed to some of the things that theyre going to be exposed to here the next month. Weve got a chance to rectify those problems.TIP-INS: High Point never led and the game was only tied for 15 seconds.Sidy Djitte grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds for the Tigers to record double-digit boards in consecutive games.Clemson blocked a season-high six shots.High Point outscored the Tigers in the paint 34-28.UP NEXTHigh Point plays its second consecutive road game when it visits Morgan State on Monday.Clemson hosts Nebraska in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday. ' ' '