With the New York Mets 5.5 games out of the NL East lead and 6.0 games out of the second Wild Card spot, the team’s playoff hopes seem slim-to-none. So what are the Mets playing for now? Both pride and to be the role of spoiler, especially against rivals. That is exactly what they wanted to do against Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday night. Well, spoiler-alert, they once again did not play this role. The team from Philadelphia defeated New York by the score of 5-3.
The first inning was the same old for Carlos Carrasco. His woes continued as he gave up a solo shot to Met-killer Jean Segura. Carrasco’s ERA in 10 first innings pitched this season is 10.43. Brandon Nimmo made a run-saving diving play on a line drive with an xBA of .480 in the second inning to keep the deficit at one.
Met-killer did it again, this time in the third inning. Segura hit another solo shot in almost the same spot as the first inning home run. The Mets trailed 2-0 after two and a half innings. Segura now has 10 home runs against the Mets in his career, the most of against any team he’s faced.
The Mets’ first real threat in the game did not come until the sixth inning. Nimmo hit the ball off the orange part of the right-field fence by the bullpen. The ball went 385-feet but stayed in the ballpark for a triple. Francisco Lindor then grounded out to second base to drive Nimmo home. The Mets were within one after six.
The beginning of the seventh, maybe a bit surprisingly, marked the end of Carrasco’s solid night at 82 pitches. His final line read six innings pitched, two runs allowed on five hits, and five strikeouts. Brad Hand was tabbed to replace him. Hand immediately gave up a lead off double down the line, then another that brought the game back to a two-run deficit. Worth noting, C. B. Bucknor, who not only had a terrible night but also is one of the worst umpires in the league, missed a strike three call before the second double.
Hand (0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R) would leave the game in the same inning only recording one out. He left a runner on first and second. Trevor May (0.2 IP, 1 H) came in relief and allowed a double to Bryce Harper which drove in two. The Mets trailed 5-1 going to the bottom of the seventh.
Javier Baez singled to being the inning and advanced to second with two outs on a fielder’s choice. Pinch hitter Dominic Smith drove Baez home to make it a 5-2 game going into the eighth.
Miguel Castro (1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB) entered the game and found himself in some trouble. After a walk, a base hit, and another walk the bases were loaded with two outs. Luckily, he was able to get out of it and the Mets still trailed three with six more outs left.
Nimmo led the eighth inning off with a home run to get the Mets within two. The solo shot went 390-feet and cleared the right-field wall. After a scoreless top of the ninth by Jeurys Familia (1.0 IP, 0 H), the Mets came to the plate still down two. However, the Mets went down in order and fell to the Phillies for the second consecutive night. The Mets have now lost five in a row.
The Mets and Phillies series will come to an end tomorrow night at 7:08 PM ET on ESPN. Going into the final matchup of the season, the Phillies have taken ten of the the first 18 games. The expected pitching matchup is Kyle Gibson (3.49 ERA) versus Rich Hill (3.88 ERA).
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Mets Player of the Game
Nimmo had a terrific night both offensively and defensively. Offensively, he finished the night 2/4 with a triple and a solo home run. Defensively, he had a splendid diving catch on a line drive. This catch helped save a run in the second inning. Having Nimmo in the lineup does tremendous things for the Mets.
