Phillies get swept by Mets as lead in NL East shrinks to four originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
NEW YORK — The flight patterns for planes landing at nearby La Guardia Airport had them going directly behind Citi Field during much of the game between the Phillies and Mets. The patterns were a little more varied when it came to the Mets hitting Wednesday, as they flew the baseball all over the field in a lopsided 6-0 win.
It was the 10th straight loss against the Mets on their home field for the Phillies, who got swept in the three-game series and now have just a four-game lead in the National League East.
When things are going the way they are for the Mets at home in this rivalry, everything just seems to go a little better. Extra bases are taken without much thought, spectacular fielding plays seem to be the norm and driving in runs when they are out there to be had is expected.
New York did all of that in the three-game series and has climbed itself right back into the divisional race.
“We’ve got a series tomorrow and we’ve got to be able to turn the page and go out there and play the Braves,” Kyle Schwarber said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people that are going to be thinking about the series, whatever it is, try to do different. But when we show up tomorrow, it’s a new day. We’ve got to be able to walk out of the clubhouse and expect to win the game.
“I don’t think we’re focused on that (the Mets getting back into the race). I think we’re focused on ourselves. It’s about us, us as a team, we’ve got to get back. We have another important series in front of us. Moving forward, we still have another series against these guys. We’re not looking to that, we’re looking to the series ahead. Things happen.”
If the Phillies were itching to get away from the area, the stadium, the other team, their offense sure played like they wanted to climb on the bus and head south as soon as possible. Rookie Nolan McLean, making just his third start in the majors, stymied them during his eight innings as he allowed just four hits, two coming in his final inning of work, walked none and struck out six.
The Mets strung together five straight hits in the third inning off starter Taijuan Walker. Brett Baty started it off with a double to left-center, followed by a bunt single from catcher Hayden Senger that just got past a charging Walker. Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso each followed with RBI singles and the familiar beatdown was on.
Walker was out after a fifth inning in which he gave up three hits, a walk and allowed the Mets’ fourth run of the night. In all, he allowed 10 hits and four earned runs.
“I feel like I made some good pitches,” Walker said. “They had a really good approach today. I feel like when I had two strikes, they really battled me, got to deep counts and put the ball in play and found holes. Just one of those series for us. We hit some balls hard, they were just in the right spot and the rest just didn’t go our way.”
McLean has now pitched 20 1/3 innings in his three starts and has given up only two earned runs and 10 hits while striking out 21. He’s also won all three games. So fooled did he have Phillies hitters that twice bats went flying out of hitters’ hands on swings and misses.
“He was as advertised,” Rob Thomson said. “Good sinker, good four-seam fastball and he can spin it. I don’t think we were pressing as much as it is not seeing him before. There are times that I think that guys try to do too much. I kind of chalk it up to not seeing him.”
Added Walker on the rookie: “He’s good. He’s got good stuff. Six pitches. I feel like you have young guys that have one or two pitches, maybe three. But he has a good six-pitch mix and I think that’s going to be key for him moving forward.”
The talk among Thomson and players during the series was often to debunk the idea that there is something more going on when the Phillies visit than just the Mets playing better baseball, that there may be some mental side of the competition that is leaning very heavily in the Mets’ favor. Understandably, manager and players must believe that. But to Phillies fans and observers, it certainly seems to be there for now.
The top of the Mets’ lineup destroyed the Phillies as the first five batters in the order went 9 for 19 with four runs scored and all six RBI. Mark Vientos had a pair of hits, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was the third baseman’s sixth home run in his last 10 games. Brandon Nimmo had three of the Mets’ 12 hits on the night.
Perhaps results will be better for the Phillies when the Mets visit Philadelphia for four games in less than two weeks. What the standings will look like then is anybody’s guess after these three games.
“We’ve got an experienced group, I don’t think it does much,” Thomson said of the team’s confidence moving forward. “We know that we need to play better. It’s one of those series. We just need to flush it and move on. It’s one series and I know it’s against the Mets, but admittedly so, we need to play better. We will. We’ve got a good club and that’s not going to change.
“I think there’s disappointment, but again they’re experienced players. I don’t think they get too high or too low. They just keep moving on and that’s what you’ve got to do in this situation. The first game I didn’t think we played well, but the last two I think we battled. The kid today was good.”
The Phillies for three games were not and now the fun really begins with 29 games remaining.
Ottawa Senators Sign Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen To New One-Way ContractThe Ottawa Senators have signed goaltender Leevi Meriläinen to a one-year, one-way contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.05 million.
