The Mets (76-69) dropped their second straight to the Phillies (85-60) on Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park, falling 9-3. With the loss, New York has slipped to just seven games over .500.
Sean Manaea (1-3, 5.76 ERA) took the loss for New York. He gave up four runs across five innings, striking out five. Philadelphia struck first in the opening frame with a two-run double, then added back-to-back solo home runs from Otto Kemp and Harrison Bader in the second to build a 4-0 lead. Manaea settled in after that, retiring nine of the final ten hitters he faced.
The Mets didn’t record a hit until Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff single in the fifth. Their second hit didn’t come until the seventh, when Mark Vientos launched his 17th home run of the season, a solo shot that cut the deficit to 4-1.
But the Phillies blew the game open in the home half of the frame. Justin Hagenman worked a clean 1-2-3 sixth in relief, but gave up two singles before surrendering a three-run homer in the seventh that stretched the lead to 7-1.
New York answered with a run in the eighth, as José Siri doubled and Juan Soto singled him home. Philadelphia quickly responded in the home half, stringing together a double, three singles, and a pair of RBI base knocks to extend the advantage to 9-2.
The Mets tacked on one more in the ninth, when Starling Marte singled, Francisco Álvarez doubled, and Jeff McNeil drove in a run with an RBI single. But the late push wasn’t enough, as Philadelphia closed out a 9-3 win.
One bright spot came as Soto swiped his 30th base of the season in the eighth inning, joining the exclusive 30/30 club with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He is one of three players in MLB history who has 35 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 110 walks in a season (in good company with Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell), per Michael Mayer of MMO.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mark Vientos earns Tuesday’s recognition, with a 1-for-3 showing at the plate, including a home run and a walk.
ON DECK
Clay Holmes (11-7, 3.61 ERA) will get the start for New York. In his last outing against the Tigers, the starter allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over 4 and 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out six.
Cristopher Sánchez (12-5, 2.60 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies. In his last time out against the Marlins, he tossed seven innings and allowed one run on six hits, walking one and striking out five.
The first pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. on SNY.
