Coming off a three-hit, one-run performance against the San Francisco Giants, Zack Wheeler was greeted by a Jimmy Rollins home run and lasted just 4.2 innings in the Mets 5-4 win over the Phillies.
In was Wheeler’s second start at Citi Field and just like his first one, was unable to complete five innings. The young righthander labored against the Phillies and allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks, but after 106 pitches and loading the bases, Terry Collins pulled him for Gonzalez Germen who struck out Dominic Brown to end the fifth. Wheeler struck out five.
The Mets needed another 4.1 innings from the bullpen a day after being burned for 8.0 innings in the series-opening loss. For the most part they did a great job of holding off the Phillies, but Bobby Parnell made things a bit scary when he was tagged for a two-run homer by Chase Utley in the ninth to bring the Phillies within one. After a double to the next batter, Murphy speared a scorcher for the third out to seal the Mets win.
Marlon Byrd had two hits and got the Mets on the board in a three-run first with an RBI single. David Wright went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Rookie Juan Lagares got a very rare start in center field and went 3-for-4 with an RBI-single, while Daniel Murphy had a pair of hits to go with an RBI and a run scored.
On Sunday, the Mets send Matt Harvey (7-2, 2.35) to the hill opposite Cliff Lee (10-3, 2.86) at 1:10 PM.
