This one hurt.
The Mets jumped out to a 4-0 lead, went down 5-4, had a potential game-tying home run denied on a leaping catch and ended up on the wrong end of a 6-4 score against the Phillies.
It was the first game all year when Francisco Lindor didn’t play and only the second game he didn’t start. In his place was rookie Luisangel Acuna, who batted ninth and produced a two-hit game. The first was a bouncing ball up the middle and the second was a solid line drive.
It was also a nice game for Starling Marte, who went 2-2 with a triple, a walk and three RBIs.
Luis Severino pitched mostly a good game, although he gave up two home runs to Bryce Harper. He left after six innings, with the Mets clinging to a one-run lead. But the bullpen blew the game. Danny Young gave up two hits and Reed Garrett allowed both inherited runners to score. Ryne Stanek pitched the ninth and he gave up a run, too.
The Mets have a chance to take the series if they can overcome both the Phillies and their inability to score runs on Sunday.
It is easy to get lost in the fantasy that the Mets can win basically all the time after their huge nine game winning streak. The Phillies are in first place for a reason – they are a good team. The question is how good. While each of the NL division leaders could reach 100 wins, the gold standard, all three would basically have to win the remaining games to do so. And no team in the AL will achieve that feat. With 14 games left, the Mets can achieve my 88 win goal by going 7-7. They need more.
Severino still gave them six innings, but the pen let them down. Walker gave the Phillies three perfect innings in relief but still no regrets in letting him walk last year. Alonso, Martínez, Alvarez and Bader each took an O-for as the Mets were blanked for the last six innings.
Peterson for the series win but Sanchez won’t be any easy foe for our light hitting Sunday lineup. Still tied for the #3 WC spot and the DBacks are ripe for being overtaken. Fingers crossed today and hoping the Dodgers can wake up and start playing like they should be. against the Braves. We can always use a little help.
There are losses to flush away, and losses to be a gray about. This game was in CBP, and a couple of early runs wouldn’t be enough. First inning: three straight walks for a run and Johnny Bench coming to bat. He swings at a pitch at the first pitch on the outside part of the plate; pop up to RF, inning over. Then, his second at bat, runner on third base and one out. He learned his lesson as he was patient, but he strikes out on a 3-2 pitch. I would have preferred this two results switched, but he also completely whiffs on a pitch that a Philly batter faked a bunt on, and the umpire got hit flush on the knee. Umpires don’t like that. Why isn’t Torrens playing more? When did Alvarez get the Johnny Bench treatment?
Ground ball to Inglesias, Alonso cuts in front, throws back to Severino covering first and throws it behind him. Severino has to stretch awkwardly backwards to catch it. His next pitch is hit over the fence by Harper. Severino wasn’t the same again.
I’m not even going to bother watching today.