On a wet day in Philadelphia, the New York Mets played another game that resembled the day itself against the Philadelphia Phillies. An error-driven game, with three errors on the day, and it was marred by mistakes and more Phillies home runs, as the Mets dropped game two of this weekend series 6-1.
Sean Manaea wasn’t great by any means on Saturday, but his defense didn’t help him again. The Mets offense could only muster up three hits as they continue their latest cold streak over the last five games now. The Mets are 41-58 on the season.
Francisco Lindor by Berto Carlo
Ugly day, ugly Mets baseball
The Mets entered Saturday’s game accumulating the second most errors in all of major league baseball. They added to that total in the loss with three on the day, and you could argue it was four after Marcus Semien bobbled what would’ve been a double-play ball in the bottom of the first inning. The biggest error of the game by New York came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Trea Turner had just homered to make it 3-1 Phillies, and then Kyle Schwarber, who hit a two-run home run off Manaea in the first inning, drew a walk. Francisco Alvarez then made a throwing error on a back pick to first base to try to throw out Schwarber. The ball got by into right field, and Schwarber advanced all the way to third base.
Alec Bohm would drive in Schwarber on a single to left field to make it 4-1 Phillies. Other errors on this day were made by Carson Benge, and Francisco Lindor made yet another error at shortstop. Neither of those mistakes resulted in a run, but it still went on the scoreboard for a mistake-ridden team.
Mets Offense Goes Quiet Again
The Mets have now scored two runs or less in four out of their last five games. In these games, the Mets have struggled to score with runners on base and in scoring position. The long ball assisted Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Phillies—two by Alvarez and one by Baty. On Saturday, the Mets went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, and it’s part of a rut the offense has been in lately. New York is now 1-for-33 over the last five games with runners in scoring position.
Benge had a chance in the first inning with two runners on, but he grounded out. One inning later, Lindor struck out to end the frame and left AJ Ewing stranded on second base. The Mets’ last chance with a runner in scoring position came in the seventh inning with Ewing again stranded on second base after Eric Wagaman struck out.
The only run of the day came courtesy of Tyrone Taylor with a solo homer in the top of the second inning. His seventh home run of the season. The Mets had scored 42 runs in their previous five games. Benge had a chance in the first inning with two runners on, but he grounded out.
Tyrone Taylor’s Power Surge
Speaking of Taylor, he’s been on a home run streak as of late. With his home run on Saturday, Taylor has now gone yard four times in his last ten games. With Taylor being a free agent at the end of the season, he could be a piece the Mets sell off at the trade deadline. New York could also opt to keep him due to his ability as a fourth outfielder.
On Deck:
In the rubber game of this series, the Mets will send Nolan McLean to the mound for his first start of the second half. He will be opposed by Alan Rangel. The game will start at 1:35 pm EDT, and will be televised locally on SNY and broadcast on WHSQ 880 AM.
