By: Matthew Mack
The Philadelphia Phillies went back to Queens to face the New York Mets for a weekend series after splitting a series with the Atlanta Braves.
Friday night, the Metropolitans made the Phillies their punching bag early. They put up seven runs early in the game. Included was Pete Alonso’s two-run home run in the third and a RBI double in the fourth. Philadelphia answered back big time. In the sixth, they put up a six spot which included a Garrett Stubbs three-run homer to cut the lead to one and turned it into a game, 7-6. The Mets tack on an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning and get the win 8-6
Saturday night, the bright lights were on but the Phillies weren’t. Although, the Phillies took the lead from the Mets in the fourth, thanks to J.T. Realmuto’s two-run RBI single, the Mets laid the smackdown. Jeff McNeil took the lead with a three run blast in the next inning. From there, the Phillies’ defense fell apart. Francisco Lindor smashed a drive to left center only to have Schwaber and Herrera miscommunicate and let two run score and Lindor to third on a triple. Also in the seventh, Lindor again helped his team with another RBI to help put away the Phillies for good. Zach Eflin gave up seven runs in the game and just was not his best. The Mets win this game 8-2.
Sunday night, the bright light remained on and the Phillies gave up three runs early in the first inning thanks to an error by Rhys Hoskins. Philadelphia get back on the board later with a fielder’s choice to score Herrera. Zack Wheeler, outside the first inning, was solid. Seven innings, four hits, seven strikeouts with three runs, one of them was earned. Nick Castellanos, in the eighth inning, took the lead and quieted the Met faithful with a three run home run. As Corey Knebel came out to save the game, he gave up a dead red fastball to Nick Plummer, who was called up from AAA Syracuse, hit his first Major League hit which was a huge home run to tie the game and send it to extra innings. In the bottom of tenth, Eduardo Escobar hit the game winning RBI to win it for the Mets as they snatched the win from the Phillies, 5-4.
The Phillies defense is rearing its ugly head and the bullpen is of no help. With said bullpen’s struggles, the defense is killing this team and is considered the worst defensive team in all of baseball statistically. Getting swept by one of the best teams in baseball and playing like they don’t belong, manager Joe Girardi is exercising patience while the fan base wants his head on a stake. As the season heads into June, the Phillies are not in full crisis mode but their play is not inspiring to say the least. As the they lick their wounds and head back home to see the San Francisco Giants, they can reflect on this 2-5 road trip as see the err of their ways and adjust or become the same ol’ mediocre baseball team that we know this team truly is.
