The game shouldn’t have been this close. But Edwin Diaz came on with filthy stuff, struck out Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos after a one-out bloop hit to close the game and give the Mets an 8-6 win over the Phillies Friday night at Citi Field. The Mets are now 7-3 against the Phillies this year.
Pete Alonso powered the Mets to a 7-0 lead, driving in runs with a sac fly, double and 2-run homer. Alonso now has 45 RBIs on the season. At this rate he may have 70 by the All-Star game. He also made a couple of nice plays in the field, including a diving stop that saved a run early in the game.
Carlos Carrasco got the start and was absolutely cruising until the sixth inning. But the Phillies strung together four straight hits that could only be described as bloops and bleeders. But those, combined with an RBI groundout, equaled three runs. When Carrasco walked the next batter, Buck Showalter went to his pen to get the platoon advantage.
But Chasen Shreve served up a 3-run HR to the lefty hitting backup catcher to make it a one-run game.
The Mets got one run back in their half of the sixth inning and that was it for scoring for the night. Both bullpens got the job done for the remainder of the game, a bit of a surprise for the Phillies. And both Drew Smith and Diaz had scuffled some on the road trip so it was good to see them both put up zeroes.
The loss dropped the Phillies to 8.5 games behind the Mets in the standings.
Shreve should not pitch again in the month of May. His line this month before tonight was .355/.394/.581/.975. It obviously just got worse and I am not giving him a pass for allowing those two inherited runners to score. He didn’t do his job – again – and he needs to figure it out. Rodriguez should be in games first. The Mets really miss a good Trevor May right now.
Great job by Alonso, and nice win. Lindor also a pest all night long. Whenever JD Davis sits a few days, he completely loses the roll that he’s on. Why exactly did he sit following his great game Tuesday?
Gut Reaction: this game should have been easier thqn it was. It was a victory because the Mets laid the foundation in the first inning when they had two sacrifice flies and a single to score three runs. Good teams score runs, make contact and not strike out in RISP situations.
Too bad Jankowski is hurt and on the IL. Eppler is a good GM. He replaced Jankowski with Lopez, who served his one game suspension this game, and now that he can be used in the future and didn’t short the bullpen in this game. Very intelligent in taking lemons and make lemonade.
I thought a big moment was getting that run back after the Phillies big half inning. It’s a sign of a good team and something that was lacking last season. Can’t say enough good about Buck. Love his press conferences where he adds info beyond the questions like praising Diaz for busting through a ninth inning and facing the meat of their lineup. He is the right manager at the right time. And Alonso is beating back those naysayers who thought he dropped off after that monster rookie year instead of seeing how every one pitched around him and he swung at too many bad pitches. Would still love another starter until, fingers crossed , Max and Jake come back to the rotation. Hard hard not to be excited about the next game.
Really can’t fault Carrasco for no balls hit harder than 84mph… Shreve is a troubling case. He was great two seasons ago… great. He looked good early, but I fear he has lost something. Can he get it back?
We still miss Miguel Castro. Trevor May is an arsonist by comparison. I hope I am wrong and the guy can be reliable, but I have severe doubts… strictly a low-leverage guy until proven otherwise. Shreve now too.
Managing the bullpen is like playing poker. You pray for good cards but you have to maneuver when you don’t. Not playing certain guys is a fold.
Bringing in a guy to face one batter (with two out) is a bluff… but bullpens and poker are never a sure thing.