It was a weird game.
Jose Quintana struck out 10 batters but gave up two homers. DJ Stewart attempted a steal. But perhaps weirdest of all was that it was a bad defensive game by Francisco Lindor, which contributed to a big inning for the Phillies and ultimately a 7-5 loss Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
The Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to some bad defense by the Phillies. Trea Turner didn’t do a very good job fielding a ball, essentially oleing it as it went to the outfield, allowing a run to score. But Kyle Schwarber, playing left field instead of DHing in the game, threw a lollipop back to the infield and a disgusted Turner didn’t have his head in the game. Ronny Mauricio saw the deal and raced home, diving safely across the plate for the second run.
But the Phillies went ahead with two homers and a triple. And the Mets had their own bad defensive inning which turned out to be the difference. The fifth inning started with Brett Baty unable to make a perfect throw to nab a speedy runner, putting the leadoff man on first. After a strikeout, Schwarber hit a double to put two runners in scoring position.
The Mets played the infield in and the next batter hit one right to Lindor. But whether due to poor field conditions or the need to hurry due to a fast runner, Lindor bounced his throw to the plate and the run scored. The next batter grounded out, which should have been the end of the inning with no runs scored. But it was only the second out and Bryce Harper drilled a single past Pete Alonso that plated two runs to make it 6-2.
The Mets came back in the seventh inning, thanks to a two-run triple by Brandon Nimmo and a sac fly by Lindor. But Reed Garrett gave up a run in the bottom of the frame to cap the scoring.
Alonso took the collar in the game and in the series he’s 1-13 with 5 Ks.
Gut Reaction: Quintana probably pitched his poorest game this season. The poor defense of the Mets contributed to the loss also . Mauricio had a heads up hustle play. The Mets scored five runs but they still lost.
Admittedly, I didn’t get a chance to see too much of the game live. Mostly notifications in my phone. But:
-on Lindor’s bad throw to the plate, it seems that the ball being wet had a role in it because the ball seemed to roll up his glove and it appears he had to hurry and didn’t get a good grip this throwing a palm ball to the plate. It spiked just like Bob Stanley’s did.
– on Nimmo’s triple. The CF Rojas misplayed it bad. Froze on the liner where you are always taught to instinctively move bad until you get a read because if you misplay it, misplay a single not an extra base hit. Ooops.
– on Harper’s bullet two run single that Alonso couldn’t field, that was a bad break.
Seems like defense yesterday was little league quality.
That Rojas liner was the absolute worst thing for an OF. Hit on a line at full speed directly to the OF. No way to really judge speed or where it is going. It was a low height hit and he no doubt felt it was a basic single. That thing ate him up.
It was too little and too late. Baby Mets got their hits. Alonso still lost at the plate and continues to have no one up behind him for protection. Yesterday it was Stewart, the day before Mauricio. Why not pitch around Pete and not let him beat you? Some defensive lapses hurt. No way Lindor throws the runner out at the plate even with a perfect throw. Phillies are a better team – plain and simple. Narvaez continues not to impress at the bat or in the field. If there will be crappy offense from backup catcher, then let’s bring back Nido for his D. A chance to salvage one game of this series this afternoon. The Phillies are on a roll toward the postseason. The Mets are making off-season vacation plans. Just isn’t fair.