PHILADELPHIA — After a season-high seven losses, the Mets have had sufficient.
The offensive woes and pitching woes continued for the Mets on Friday night time in a 10-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. It’s been robust to shuffle the pitching rotation, and difficult to shuttle guys backwards and forwards from Triple-A to make up for accidents, however the Mets aren’t utilizing accidents as an excuse.
“It’s just not our standard,” mentioned first baseman Pete Alonso. “How we’ve been playing doesn’t match the talent or the standards that we set for ourselves.”
Rookie right-hander Blade Tidwell gave up two within the fourth, and Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil hit residence runs to tie the sport within the high of the sixth. Then, the Mets promptly imploded. Proper-handers Reed Garrett and Justin Garza mixed to surrender six runs within the backside of the seventh. Two of these runs scored virtually concurrently, with Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto crossing the plate inside inches of one another.
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No group goes by way of the season with out scuffling, however with the best way the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves are taking part in, the timing may make issues tough for the Mets late within the season.
The pitching workers, as soon as the most effective within the league, has given up 51 runs over the past seven video games. The large hitters haven’t hit. The Mets loaded the bases within the first inning, solely to go away them loaded.
“Chase is one of the things that we’ve been doing as of late,” Mendoza mentioned. “Especially with runners in scoring position, or whenever they get ahead, we’re missing our pitches early in the count and then they’re making us chase.”
It’s been an particularly tough stretch for Francisco Lindor, who has gone 0-for-18 over the past 5 video games and struck out six instances. Just a few days in the past in Atlanta, the shortstop mentioned he could possibly be higher, and that he understands that he must be higher.
Lindor is greater than only a leadoff hitter, he’s a key group chief. He units the tone for the complete offense with the Mets usually going the best way Lindor goes. He has a .341 common and a 1.024 OPS in wins, however in losses, he’s hitting lower than .200. Very like the remainder of the lineup, Lindor can be chasing pitches outdoors of the zone.
“I felt like he wasn’t seeing the ball of [Zack] Wheeler, swinging pitches out of the strike zone,” Mendoza mentioned, “When he’s at his best, obviously he controls the strike zone and he doesn’t miss pitches. Right now, I feel like he’s going outside of the strike zone.”
Wheeler shut out his former group over 5 innings, placing out eight and scattering 4 hits, strolling three and placing out eight. The Mets battled him, making him throw almost 100 pitches, and knocking him out of the sport early.
The Phillies went to right-hander Taijuan Walker, one other former Mets beginning pitcher, and Alonso and McNeil proceeded to go back-to-back with residence runs, tying the sport at 2-2 within the high of the sixth. Luis Torrens singled off Walker with one out, giving the Mets an opportunity to rally.
The rally by no means occurred. Left-hander Tanner Banks retired Brett Baty and Tyrone Taylor to finish the inning, and retired the highest of the order within the high of the seventh.
“The funny thing about baseball is it’s nine innings, and every moment, whether it’s good or bad, is fleeting in baseball because you have to play a complete nine innings,” Alonso mentioned. “Tonight, I don’t think we played the full baseball game.”
Garrett confronted 5 hitters within the backside with out recording an out. Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner hit back-to-back doubles to interrupt the tie, Kyle Schwarber walked and Alec Bohm scored Turner on a line drive that went previous a diving Alonso at first.
Again on high 4-2, Castellanos made it 5-2 with a single off Garza.
“I feel like stuff is there,” Mendoza mentioned of Garrett. “With the way everything’s going right now, it seems like every ball finds a hole.”
Tidwell was sharp over the primary few innings of his second massive league sport, however across the fourth inning, he misplaced his edge. Known as up earlier within the day to make a spot begin, Tidwell crammed prefer it was a check to review the Philadelphia lineup. He showcased a tough fastball and a gyro slider with a ton of motion, and labored shortly the primary time by way of the order.
Restricted to solely 60-70 pitches, the 24-year-old Tidwell threw 74 of them, with Mendoza wanting left-hander Jose Castillo to face No. 9 hitter Brandon Marsh, one other lefty. Tidwell was charged with two earned runs on 4 hits, walked three and struck out 4 over 4 2/3 innings. The stuff is clearly there for Tidwell. The 6-4 righty out of Tennessee is rated a high pitching prospect for a purpose, and this was a preview of what’s to return. Nonetheless, there may be some refining for him to do in Triple-A.
And loads of work for the Mets (45-31) to do within the massive leagues weekend after slipping to second within the NL East behind the Phillies (46-30).
“Collectively as a group, whether it’s defensively, offensively, we’re not necessarily in sync on either side of the ball right now,” Alonso mentioned. “So I just think, as a whole group, we’re not just not playing clean baseball. We’re not playing up to our potential.”
Initially Revealed: June 20, 2025 at 10:32 PM EDT
