Mandatory Credit: Kam Nedd-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Stroman’s night concluded after 64 pitches against the Phillies. Stroman was pulled with a tight right hamstring after the fifth inning.

Dealing with a nagging hamstring from the third inning on Stroman tossed five innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out eight. The only runs scored by Philadelphia came unearned during the second.

He breezed through the first on eight pitches. An injury-depleted Phillies lineup flew out twice and grounded out once. No at-bat went more than three pitches.

Stroman and the Mets recorded four outs in the bottom of the second. Brad Miller led off the inning with a single, followed by a strikeout to Alec Bohm and a fly out from Nick Maton.

Andrew Knapp singled with two outs and Odubel Herrera walked on four pitched to load the bases. Stroman needed to get pitcher Chase Anderson out to escape.

Anderson worked a 1-2 count. Stroman fired an 85 mile per hour splitter inside. Anderson swung and missed. It should have been out number three., but James McCann was unable to corral it. The ball bounced toward the Phillies’ on-deck circle. By the time it was handled, Miller and Knapp had already crossed home plate.

The Mets lost 2-1.

Stroman struck out Andrew McCutchen for the final out of the inning.

McCutchen’s strikeout to end the second was the second of six straight strikeouts for Stroman. Matt Joyce, Rhys Hoskins, and Miller all went down swinging in the third. Bohm was called out on strikes to start the fourth.

Forgetting the amount in a row, six strikeouts set Stroman’s season-high. He finished the night with eight total to set a new mark.

The last baserunner against Stroman came in the fifth inning. Herrera reached first on a ball that went 11 feet. Anderson tried moving Herrera over with another bunt but popped out. The failed attempt led to a double play by McCutchen.

Whatever pain Stroman dealt with was imperceptible to the results.

The Mets’ training staff, pitching coaches, and Stroman himself were comfortable taking him out.

“It’s just one of those things we’re leaning on the side of caution,” Stroman said. “It’s a pretty long year and I don’t think it made sense to go out there and press it and force it in the sixth and seventh potentially making it worse.”

Stroman’s hamstring began bothering him in the bottom of the third. He led off the top of the third with a double for his first hit of the season. Stroman was stranded as the Mets top four batters failed to move him over. The blustery, cold weather didn’t help, Rojas said.

The process made sense. Down two runs the team believed they would make up the difference. With how well the bullpen has pitched and against a skeleton Phillies lineup it was an easy choice. The bullpen held the lead but the Mets bats came up short again.

Unless the Mets find an offensive switch to flip they need Stroman. He’s cruised his way through this season and torn through lineups. Stroman’s been on the hook for the loss his last two starts while owning a 1.86 ERA on the season.

Rojas spoke to Stroman after the game, trying to be cautious with the injury. Stroman had other ideas in mind.

“I went to talk to him and he’s like ‘100% I’m making it’ which is encouraging to hear,” Rojas said.

“No, it won’t be (an issue),” Stroman said. ” I know what I have to do these next four or five days. The staff here is unbelievable. It’s just a matter of doing everything that we need to do to get better strength in it. I have 100% confidence in my mind that I’ll be back out there in five days.”

The Mets opt toward precaution with Stroman possibly because of scars from 2020. Stroman took a line drive off his calf during an intrasquad scrimmage in summer camp. They announced he tore a muscle in his left calf two days before opening day. He would later opt out of the shortened season.

Still, they are completely different injuries.  His status will be monitored closely until he takes the mound next week.