Phillies’ bats stay cold, lose to the Mets 8-4
The Phillies were back in action tonight against the New York Mets. Chase Anderson was on the mound for the Phillies in the fifth spot of the rotation and making his Phillies debut. Anderson pitched well, allowing two earned runs on two hits and struck out three. Anderson let the Mets jump out to a two run lead thanks to a two run home run by Dominic Smith in the top of the fourth inning.
The Phillies, who were forced to face the Mets’ starting rotation this series due to New York’s opening series being postponed against the Nationals, remained cold at the plate through the first few innings. As expected, Marcus Stroman pitched well. Stroman went six innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Didi Gregorius was able to cut the lead in half with an absolute bomb to dead centerfield.
Vince Velasquez made his regular season debut for the Phillies in relief of Anderson. It was a classic performance by Vinny Velo. He struck out the side in the sixth inning before losing his location in the seventh. Velasquez walked three batters, loading the bases with one out, then walked in another run and the Phillies were down 3-1. Vinny ended his night pitching 1.1 innings, walking four, and striking out four.
Brandon Kintzler entered the game in relief of Velasquez hoping to get the Phillies out of a jam and keep the game within reach heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Kintzler allowed a sac fly to give the Mets a 4-1 lead. With runners on the corner and two outs, Realmuto threw down to second and Didi Gregorius botched the catch, which allowed the Mets to score yet another run, extending their lead to four. Yes, those were all Vinny Velo’s runners. Conforto would hit a double to right center scoring another run. The Mets extended their lead to 6-1.
With Stroman exiting the game after six innings, the Phillies would need to mount one hell of a comeback to improve to 5-0 on the season. Haseley hit a double and Hoskins roped a pinch-hit single to trim the lead to four. Alec Bohm singled to bring up Bryce Harper with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. A wild pitch advanced both Bohm and Hoskins, but Harper flied out after he ripped a ball to left-center. The Phillies would leave two RISP and enter the final two innings with a four run deficit.
David Hale would pitch the eighth inning and get knocked around a bit but did not surrender a run. In the bottom half of the inning, Gregorius and Segura both singled with one out but the Phillies failed to score any runs yet again after Brad Miller and Roman Quinn both struck out to end the inning. In the top of the ninth inning, David Hale let up a two out, two run home run to Pete Alonzo, giving the Mets an 8-2 lead.
Haseley would get a hit on an infield single in the bottom of the 9th. Hoskins would then score Haseley on a double to shallow left center. For two players who did not start for the Phillies to record two hits in the game, it’s perfectly fine to question why Joe Girardi opted to sit both of them only four games into the season, but I digress. Hoskins would score on an infield ground out by JT Realmuto, to bring the Phillies back within four with two outs before Didi Gregorius flied out to enter to end the game.
The Phillies had 10 hits to the Mets five and still lost this game 8-4. Although we all wanted a perfect 162-0 season for the Phillies, they were going to lose at least one game. Tonight was the night.
Next Up: The Phillies will send Aaron Nola to the mound looking to win the series against the Mets tomorrow at 4:05pm.
Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY
