Francisco Alvarez drives in 3 runs as Mets beat Phillies

NEW YORK — When Francisco Lindor suffered his back injury last weekend, it generated two pressing questions. One was how long Lindor might be sidelined. The other was who might lift the Mets in his absence.

While the former remains an open query, the latter now has an obvious answer. Francisco Alvarez homered and drove home three runs in the Mets’ 6-3 win over the Phillies at Citi Field on Saturday, ensuring at least a series split and preventing the Phillies — for a day, at least — from clinching the National League East on Queens turf.

The Mets, meanwhile, maintained their Wild Card lead over the Braves with seven to play (pending Atlanta’s result against the Marlins). And they did so in front of a sold-out crowd of 44,152, the largest at Citi Field this season and the fifth biggest in the ballpark’s history.

It was Alvarez who opened the scoring for the Mets with a game-tying solo homer off Ranger Suárez in the second inning. Luisangel Acuña also hit his third career homer, and Brandon Nimmo singled in a go-ahead run in the seventh. But the Mets still needed insurance. Enter Alvarez, who bashed a double into the left-center-field gap for two more runs off Orion Kerkering.

Five of Alvarez’s 11 home runs have come in his past nine games. He has raised his OPS 50 points over that stretch.

Edwin Díaz locked down the final four outs for a save in relief of Sean Manaea, who allowed three runs in seven-plus innings.