Where is Zach Eflin? Phillies Come Up Short in Comeback, Drop Series Opener to Mets 8-6

The Phillies fell short in their bid to comeback from a seven run deficit, dropping the first of the three game series to the Mets 8-6.

 Mets (30-17) Beat Phillies (21-25)

• Winning Pitcher: Carlos Corrasco (2-4, 3.56)
• Losing Pitcher: Bailey Falter (4-3, 2.68)
• Save: n/a

Where is Zach Eflin?

Before the game the Phillies optioned Jose Alvarado to AAA Lehigh Valley and promoted reliever Bailey Falter, who got the start tonight in favor of Zach Eflin.

Ok, I have a few questions…

So we are going with a bullpen game against the Mets? In a huge series that the Phillies should probably win to keep their hopes alive of winning the division. Instead Joe Girardi thought the team would fare better with a young pitcher on the road in a hostile environment?

How long ago did they know that Bailey Falter was going to make this start? When asked by the media why he was scratched in a press conference earlier in the week, Girardi answered that he had no idea.

Unless Zach Eflin was unable to pitch or is injured this move makes absolutely no sense and 100% set a losing tone for the game tonight. It is decisions like this by Girardi that have added up to my losing my faith in him as this teams manager.

The Phillies are now 8.5 GB after tonight’s loss and 3-7 against the Mets this season.

At least Michael Barkann had the guts to call out Joe Girardi during the post game show on NBC Philly.

Yes Michael! We want answers!

Falter, who has been dominating at Lehigh Valley got a rude welcome to the big leagues as the Mets knocked him around for 3 runs in the 1st inning. Falter tossed 3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 5 runs, although only two of them were earned. The defense didn’t exactly have the back of the young pitcher as Bryson Stott committed a throwing error on literally the first play of the game.

Nick Nelson entered the game in relief of Falter in the 4th inning and didn’t fare much better. The Mets roughed him up for three runs over just two innings of work. At this point in the game, the scoreboard read 7-0 Mets and I was wondering if it was time to switch over to the Heat Celtics game.

The Phillies then began their own attempt at overcoming a 7 run deficit, just like the Mets had done to them a few weeks earlier.

Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos both knocked in runs with RBI singles contributing to a crooked 6th inning for the Phillies. Jean Segura added one more run, cutting the lead to four when backup catcher Garrett Stubbs came to the plate with two men on base. Stubbs smashed a home run off Mets reliever Ben Shreve, who had just entered the ball game to provide a lefty on lefty matchup. The Fightins exploded for six runs in the 6th and brought the game to within one run at 7-6.

But let me know if you have heard this one before..the Phillies bullpen couldn’t keep it a one run game. The Mets answered back in their half of the 6th inning and the Phillies were unable to close the gap for the rest of the game.

Pete Alonso had himself quite a night going 2-2, with one run and four RBI. I would honestly think about walking him in the upcoming games this weekend. He already has 45 RBI this season and it’s still fucking May.

Chill out Pete.

Hopefully Zach Eflin is able to do his job and take the mound tomorrow night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15. Taijuan Walker will be making approximately his 100th career start against the Phillies.

The Mets scored on back to back sac-flys, both times testing the arm of Nick Castellanos and finding success.

2-0 Mets

Mark Canha rips a base hit to scoring Francisco Lindor in a big 1st inning for the New York Mets.

3-0 Mets

Pete Alonso obliterates a slider left out over the plate from Bailey Falter deeeeeep into the left field bleachers.

5-0 Mets

Jesus Christ, is there anybody you want to punch in the face more than Pete Alonso? He is killing the Phillies tonight.

7-0 Mets

Bryce Harper is truly wasting his talents playing for this Phillies team.

7-1 Mets

Nick Castellanos cuts into the Mets lead with an RBI single in the 6th inning.

7-2 Mets

Holy shit! Just like that Garrett Stubbs make it a one run ball game with a three run bomb down the right field line.

7-6 Mets

Nick Castellanos is getting picked on tonight in right field. Love Casty, but he probably should have grabbed that one.

8-6 Mets

Up Next

The Phillies will look to bounce back in game two of the three game series against the division leading New York Mets in Flushing on Saturday night.

Zach Eflin (1-3, 3.65) will toe the rubber facing off against Taijuan Walker (2-0, 2.70), with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15 pm.

NBC Sports will carry the broadcast of the game.